Redirect fuel subsidies to improve public transport, govt told

 

FMT:

Redirect fuel subsidies to

improve public transport,

govt told

Elill Easwaran

-05 Oct 2024, 07:30 AM

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says countries with high-performing public transport systems, such as Singapore and Japan, have prioritised investment in infrastructure and service quality over fuel subsidies.

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A National Transport Authority (NTA) should be set up to improve coordination across all modes of transport, says a transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.

PETALING JAYA: 

A transport consultant has urged the government to redirect fuel subsidies towards improving public transport infrastructure in Budget 2025, to create a more reliable and sustainable system.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said fuel subsidies, which form a significant portion of the budget, are currently enjoyed by those who own private vehicles. This, he said, has hindered the development of a robust public transportation system.

But this money could be better used to improve public transport,

 he told FMT.

Wan Agyl called on the government to scale back fuel subsidies and put the savings to more strategic use by improving bus and rail services, adding that doing so would have a more meaningful impact in the long run.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.

He said countries with high-performing public transport systems, such as Singapore and Japan, have prioritised investment in infrastructure and service quality over fuel subsidies.

Wan Agyl also highlighted the need for better management of transport infrastructure projects, including the MRT3, which have been plagued by delays.

He said that such delays not only inconvenience the public but also undermine confidence in the government’s ability to deliver on its promises.

It’s not just about how much money we allocate, but how effectively these projects are managed,

 he said, adding that improved project oversight and clearer timelines would ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

Wan Agyl also emphasised the need to establish a National Transport Authority (NTA) to streamline decision-making and improve coordination across all modes of transport, following the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

The former head of policy and planning at SPAD said the NTA must be empowered to plan, formulate policy, regulate and carry out enforcement action. He said Apad, which replaced SPAD in 2019, presently acts as no more than a 

processing arm

.

Right now, our transport governance is fragmented, which results in inconsistent decision-making and poor long-term planning. The NTA would be a single body overseeing everything from buses to rail and micromobility, ensuring a unified vision and strategy,

 said Wan Agyl.

He argued that without a centralised authority, Malaysia would continue to struggle with misaligned priorities and inefficient use of resources.

Transport consultant Rosli Khan said the government’s budgetary initiatives for public transport were 

too Klang Valley-centric

, resulting in a failure to address the needs of numerous other cities and towns across the country.

State capitals like Kota Kinabalu and Johor Bahru are in dire need of public transport. However, they are overlooked while the government pours resources into the Klang Valley.

More equitable approach needed

Rosli Khan.

Rosli, who has spent over 30 years in the transport industry, pointed out that Penang was recently allocated RM10.5 billion for a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, while many other states were neglected altogether.

He said cheaper alternatives like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) were being ignored in favour of more costly solutions.

The government seems biased towards high-cost rail projects, even when simpler and more effective bus solutions could serve the people better,

 said Rosli, adding that Putrajaya’s reluctance to increase petrol prices did not help in resolving traffic jams.

He added that the current approach favours private vehicle owners at the expense of those who rely on public transport.

Rosli called for Budget 2025 to take a more balanced and equitable approach by addressing the public transport needs of all states, and not just focusing on the Klang Valley.