So RapidKL is going to take over the bus system in Penang. Considering RapidKL's background of expertise and experience, I'm sure Penangites welcome this news with the hope that our public transport woes will soon be over.
However, I was appalled to note that although RapidPenang will be running the bus system from August, the existing bus companies will be allowed to be operate alongside RapidPenang.
We all know by now how the new re-zoned bus system in Penang has failed miserably. There have been so many complains from bus commuters. I am a regular bus user of the Milan bus (the Three series) and I have first-hand experience of the horrendous bus service.
The buses' conditions, the drivers' attitude, the route they 'suka-suka' take, the long wait for a bus to be full, no ticket issue, no proper timetable, all these are nothing new by now and which if I go into detail, might turn into a mini horror story enough to rival Stephen King's.
The worst part of my experience was when I (together with some other passengers) were asked to get down from the bus I had already boarded to take another bus just because they wanted to fill up passengers in one bus. Ah ... but wait, even worse was when I was chased out from a bus with no other buses in sight!
This happened four days ago after I boarded a Milan 3-3 bus at Komtar to go to Sunshine Square. We were surprised when the driver shouted at us to get out and mumbled that he was not going to Relau or Sunshine Square. He returned me 50 sen of the RM1.70 fare I paid.
Can you imagine that? Although I hardly use the services of the other two bus companies KGN Hin (One series) and Transit Link (Two series), I have heard of horror stories similar to mine.
Taking into account that we the poor passengers are subject to such torture by the present bus companies, why should they be allowed to be operate once RapidPenang takes over?
As RapidKL has been touted as being a one of the best public transport companies, I'm sure they will be able to handle very efficiently on their own Penang's bus system. More importantly, if the present bus operators fleets are still allowed on the street, this means more vehicles on our roads, adding to the already heavy traffic.
Therefore, I urge the authority to please stop the existing bus companies in Penang from operating come August, when RapidPenang takes over the bus system in the state. They were given their chance but they blew it and there should be no compromise in not allowing them continue to operate. Let's give RapidPenang a chance now to run the public transport system in Penang.
