Developing a public transport network is an expensive endeavour for any government, but having one that is seamless for commuters is worth the cost, according to transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong. He said that most governments, even those in advanced countries, would incur losses in building and operating a public transport system. However, he said things cannot simply be measured purely in terms of cost.
“We need to view the whole issue of public transportation in totality, not merely on how much capital expenditure was invested in a project. It is almost impossible to recover the money spent on public transportation and this is something that happens even in advanced countries,” he said.
He said that good public transportation will help reduce traffic congestion and this will help people save time and money. “All that time spent being caught in traffic is a big loss. So the expenditure on improving public transportation to ease people’s journeys will be worth it,” he said last week during the official relaunch of the KTM Skypark Link service.
As reported by The Star, Wee said this in response to a question asking how much the government was spending on subsidising users of the Skypark Link, which is an express service from KL Sentral to the Subang Skypark Terminal via the Subang Jaya KTM station.
Previously, the fare for a ride was RM10, but is now 65% cheaper at RM3.50. Fares for children aged two to six, primary and secondary school students, senior citizens as well as persons with disabilities enjoy a further 50% discount. Rapid KL has also responded by adding KTM Terminal Skypark in two of its bus routes – Rapid KL route 772 and MRT feeder bus route T804.
Wee said the new fare would help reduce the burden of transport costs. “The cost of public transportation is a major factor that affects a person’s cost of living in this country, and the government is always committed to helping vulnerable groups, especially those in the B40 category, as it wants to provide inclusive development without marginalising any section of society,” he explained.
“We have introduced various initiatives to help elevate the people’s socio-economic status, so we urge all to take advantage of them,” he added.
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today non stop carrying news from MCA leaders… is PT now a MCA mouthpiece?
He is currently a minister of transport, so what do you expect?
Y’all shud knew it by now. That MRT main kontraktor is my gud golfing buddy , whatelse can i sez. Cash is King! LOL
Eh so what. He is my main sponsor you know. We are like dis bestest fren ya. No one can challenge me, I challenge you.
Cause PT will write story anything related to our transportation and it just happened Mr Wee is our transportation minister. Takkan want your party people to talk about this pulak? Aiyoo everything wanna politicised ke? Grow up please
Aiyooo. Be glad that at last we have a transport minister that cares about transportation and our well being and not just selling number plates.
For DAP sake, that creature its my blardy gudfren Rama pawKawtim rahim goddam beruk son. They shud stay in the zoo instead of roaming outside, LOL
It is not who is talking that matters. PT reports for both sides if you lately. Difference is whenever WKS talks he talk sense and resounds with rakyat concerns. Whenever DAP MPs talks they talk BS coming out of the rear hole. Not brain cells were used at all. This difference matters to us.
Yes, in order to reduce traffic congestion please……..(the quote says below):
#StopSSTExemptionImmediately
many countiries have been doing it. We still study worth or not? Thumb up!
Well what do we expect when the previous boss sky ballooned the MRT / ECRL price and it was reduced after 2018 and even after that it can be further reduced. So now we totally understand how it works our public transport works for the special few.
That is a stupid way of looking at things, anyone with half a brain can tell the sleek and uniquely designed stations of MRT1 compared to the generic, boring and cheapo looking stations coming up for MRT2 made painfully obvious and when you see how much they “saved” it is all wayang as the puny “savings” dont commensurate with the poorer build quality on the newer stations. This is akin to paying BMW prices for BMW quality MRT1 but PH thought it was a good idea to pay Toyota prices for Perodua quality MRT2. Any idiot can tell which is more worth our taxpayers monies. The same wayang happened with ECRL thankfully made right again by WKS. Why on earth would you want to take a train to N9 just to go Kelantan, only PH can brain this but not normal human sense logic.
Well said Dr Wee; this is something PH didn’t understand.
Yes unlike PH he terminate then give back the job plus compensation to Dhaya Maju. KVDT2.
Expensive endevour = Rakyat has to pay for these expensive toys
Worth it = commission and other perks menteri, family and friends can enjoy from this expensive thing