Beginning Sept 1, Metrobus will no longer operate along the Rawang, Selayang and Bukit Beruntung routes. The routes will be officially taken over by another bus operator that also runs within the area, Setara Jaya Sdn Bhd (SJ Bus) – the company has been given exclusive rights to the routes, it was reported in The Star.
The decision was made by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) which has notified both SJ Bus and Metrobus. It was explained by operations manager of Setara Jaya, H.S Nik who said that due to the low number of passengers, the company had actually intended to stop the Rawang service because of this.
“Now that SPAD is entrusting us with this route, we will do all we can to serve the people better,” he said adding that the decision will now ease the company’s planning of the bus schedule and route frequency in Rawang and Selayang based on commuter’s needs. “We plan to install cameras in the buses to protect our property as much as to safeguard the passengers,” he mentioned.
SJ Bus which set up office at the Rawang bus terminal a little over a year ago, currently has a fleet that comprises of 85 buses while an additional order has been placed for 20 new buses, which it is set to receive in September, next month.
Currently, SJ Bus shuttles passengers along Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, Bandar Baru Selayang, Metro Prima Kepong and Taman Ehsan. It also ferries passengers to Pudu Sentral in KL and the Titiwangsa bus terminal.
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well, who needs competition in malaysia….
For a typical Malaysian company, you can’t survive without monopoly/protection. Proton is the best example.
‘H.S Nik who said that due to the low number of passengers’
Low number of passengers yet very happy to take over the route? Expanding some more.
Very fishy indeed.
inkambing conspiracy theorists!
Not many interstate bus routes are profitable and those that are, need to offset those that dont. Its a chicken and egg situation as far as competition goes. To increase profits, its either increase ridership per bus (ie cut frequencies or cut operators) or increase price (Oppo will rage).
At the moment bus fares are regulated, so competitions is a moot point if all of them agreed to the same fare. De-regulating the fares w/o competition will raise prices indiscriminately. Otoh, if competition is allowed, they probably wont run these unprofitable routes and those rakyats who dun get connected will rage.
Its not so easy and straightforward problem to settle. The Gov should use ETS & Komuter rails as hubs for these people and the buses can serve to connect remote areas to these hubs, thereby reducing cost and increase riderships. Win-win for all.
i want Mini Bus back in action…which serve more frequent than bigger buses for non interstate bus..
hmm, i cannot agreed with this Nik. I always see full load of passenger heading to KL, because is far more cheaper to take Metrobus rather than KTM. I do believe this SJ bus wanted to monopoly this route.