Motorbike taxis - a good idea...but give permits to individuals, and maybe let it come under the Local Government(the Local Councils)...
Do not just consider giving permits to e-hailing companies or multi nationals. When the bus arrives at Mentakab or the bus stop in town, people need to get home which maybe 1- 3 kilometers away...and if there are motorbike taxis and metered taxis there, people can easily get transport back home or somewhere nearby. [Rates could be fixed between RM1-5 depending on distance, and the motorbike taxi operators be required to wear uniforms with clear identification numbers and names).
Do not just consider giving permits to e-hailing companies or multi nationals. When the bus arrives at Mentakab or the bus stop in town, people need to get home which maybe 1- 3 kilometers away...and if there are motorbike taxis and metered taxis there, people can easily get transport back home or somewhere nearby. [Rates could be fixed between RM1-5 depending on distance, and the motorbike taxi operators be required to wear uniforms with clear identification numbers and names).
Public transport in Malaysia is pathetic especially in smaller towns and rural areas. Public buses that used to travel around town and stop at bus stops along the way have disappeared...or become so few.
Before at every bus-stop there was a schedule telling us what time the bus will come ...and usually, one had to wait the most was 30 minutes - today, there are no more signs telling us time the bus will come...and there is no regularity of bus services...sometimes one has to wait for hours before a bus shows up...
Before at every bus-stop there was a schedule telling us what time the bus will come ...and usually, one had to wait the most was 30 minutes - today, there are no more signs telling us time the bus will come...and there is no regularity of bus services...sometimes one has to wait for hours before a bus shows up...
The then Barisan Nasional government did nothing and the state of public transport deteriorated ...will the new PH government do something or are they too just interested in Klang Valley and big towns?
People will start using public transport if it is dependable and efficient. But, when it is not dependable, no one will risk being late to work or any destination they need to go...even hospital and government clinics.
POVERTY - now there are many locals who also may find it difficult finding jobs or jobs with sufficient income. Maybe the government(Local Councils) could address this issue by making available jobs and income generation activities - taxi permits including motorcycle taxi permits for individuals is one way. There could also be points or such taxi stops, like at bus stops, train stations, hospitals, near shopping areas, etc..
In Bangkok, at every MRT stations, there is always motor-bike taxis, and many line up to take these taxis to get back home...or to other destinations 1-5 kilometers from these stations.
People will start using public transport if it is dependable and efficient. But, when it is not dependable, no one will risk being late to work or any destination they need to go...even hospital and government clinics.
POVERTY - now there are many locals who also may find it difficult finding jobs or jobs with sufficient income. Maybe the government(Local Councils) could address this issue by making available jobs and income generation activities - taxi permits including motorcycle taxi permits for individuals is one way. There could also be points or such taxi stops, like at bus stops, train stations, hospitals, near shopping areas, etc..
In Bangkok, at every MRT stations, there is always motor-bike taxis, and many line up to take these taxis to get back home...or to other destinations 1-5 kilometers from these stations.
PERMITS - well, the past government gave it to big bus companies ...and smaller public bus operators just could not get permits. Big companies absorbed small companies - and now routes that previously were operated by smaller bus companies are just being 'cancelled' by these bigger bus companies - why? Not profitable? - But public transport is a public service that should always be available...it is a government responsibility?
In small towns, even 2nd largest towns in Pahang like Temerloh and Mentakab, there is still no 'METERED Taxis" or even phone numbers one can call to get a taxi. Rates are arbitrary...and sometime very high...
E-hailing taxis - well many people do not have data service or the much more expensive smartphones.. which is a pre-requisite to use e-hailing services. Practically, Malaysians have access to an ordinary phone - and so, there should be phone hailing taxis, rather than e-hailing taxis...
In rural areas and small towns where most Malaysians live, the government must step in to provide access to public transport - maybe the Federal Government will have a call-in service so people can get taxis or motorbikes to come pick them from home in kampungs/tamans to get them to places they want to go...Will the Minister consider this?
In Mentakab, the KTMB trains arrives at about 3 am - and there are no taxis to take passengers to their homes... so family members or friends have to come and pick-up people - but many may not have family/friends with cars...so then they may have to use 'kereta sapu' - kereta sapu...because that driver cannot get a permit to operate his/her 'taxi' or 'van'...
Towns have expanded - and there are tamans and kampungs several kilometers from town centre...and no public transport services. If individuals or small businesses can get permits, then they may operate small buses, vans or even taxis that will solve public transport problems.
Remember that Penang and Selangor, when under the Opposition government, could not even get a permit from the Federal Government(then the BN) to get permits to operate bus services to solve public transport issue in their state - then they avoided the permit by the FREE bus services..
So, the new PH government, now must get rid of Federal Government control of permits, and allow easier permit issuance for busses, taxis and motor-bike taxis. Sizes of buses should also not be made an issue - for in rural areas, a van with 6-9 seats may all that it needed than a 40-seat bus?
If someone wants to operate a bus service from a Taman to around town, allow them... let supply and demand determine success and failure of that business...
When public transport is not there or efficient, people are forced to buy their own cars and motorbikes ...but then, other problems emerge, like parking...A shop with 6 workers, and all having cars is 'problematic' for then it makes it difficult for customers to find 'parking spots'...and this impacts small businesses like shops... Parking fees is another cost that Malaysians could forego...and this will help with their other living cost. Even at 50 cents an hour, parking fees itsself could be RM8-9 per day...money that could better be spend for other needs of the family...
Help the INDIVIDUAL - give him/her taxi permits including motor-cycle taxi permits - It should come under the Local Council - who will monitor their 'taxis' - Give permit holders VESTs with their name, and other identification features...and Local Councils will know where there is a NEED, and can also set up relevant taxi-stands or customer waiting areas..
Even for call-in taxis or e-hailing taxis, Malaysia really should give local Malaysians rather than foreign companies...
Remember that Penang and Selangor, when under the Opposition government, could not even get a permit from the Federal Government(then the BN) to get permits to operate bus services to solve public transport issue in their state - then they avoided the permit by the FREE bus services..
So, the new PH government, now must get rid of Federal Government control of permits, and allow easier permit issuance for busses, taxis and motor-bike taxis. Sizes of buses should also not be made an issue - for in rural areas, a van with 6-9 seats may all that it needed than a 40-seat bus?
If someone wants to operate a bus service from a Taman to around town, allow them... let supply and demand determine success and failure of that business...
When public transport is not there or efficient, people are forced to buy their own cars and motorbikes ...but then, other problems emerge, like parking...A shop with 6 workers, and all having cars is 'problematic' for then it makes it difficult for customers to find 'parking spots'...and this impacts small businesses like shops... Parking fees is another cost that Malaysians could forego...and this will help with their other living cost. Even at 50 cents an hour, parking fees itsself could be RM8-9 per day...money that could better be spend for other needs of the family...
Help the INDIVIDUAL - give him/her taxi permits including motor-cycle taxi permits - It should come under the Local Council - who will monitor their 'taxis' - Give permit holders VESTs with their name, and other identification features...and Local Councils will know where there is a NEED, and can also set up relevant taxi-stands or customer waiting areas..
Even for call-in taxis or e-hailing taxis, Malaysia really should give local Malaysians rather than foreign companies...
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