Rawang routes exclusive to SJ Bus

Going strong: This SJ mini bus seen in Taman Garing area in Rawang has been servicing commuters for more than a decade.

METROBUS has been directed to stop plying Rawang, Selayang and Bukit Beruntung starting Sept 1, and Setara Jaya Sdn Bhd (SJ Bus) has been exclusively handed those routes.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) made the decision and had notified the companies involved.

SJ Bus plies between Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, Bandar Baru Selayang, Metro Prima Kepong as well as Taman Ehsan in Kepong and downtown Kuala Lumpur namely Pudu Sentral and the Titiwangsa bus terminal. The company also has buses going to Tanjung Malim.

Setara Jaya operations manager H.S. Nik said it would now be easier for the company to plan the bus schedule and frequency for Rawang and Selayang areas based on the actual need.

“At present, there is hardly any passengers and our buses are sometimes practically empty for the trip to Kuala Lumpur, so we were planning to stop the Rawang service.

“Now that SPAD is entrusting us with this route, we will do all we can to serve the people better.”

He said Setara Jaya set up office at the Rawang bus terminal more than a year ago and made it the hub for SJ buses servicing long distances.

Nik showing CCTV footages at his office in the Rawang Bus terminal. 

The company currently has 85 buses and has ordered 20 new buses which will be delivered in early September.

The frequency for each route is 15 minutes except for the KL- Tanjung Malim route which has the frequency of half an hour. Operation hours are from 5.30am to 11.30pm daily.

Nik said SPAD took the initiative to work out the routes for bus operators and will benefit all parties with a systematic transportation system.

“We plan to install cameras in the buses to protect our property as much as to safeguard the passengers,” he added.

Whether or not the bus service will improve in terms of frequency, safety and cleanliness remains to be seen but residents in this region of Klang Valley are hopeful.

Rawang resident Vijaya Sundram, 52, said he hoped that the bus operator would bring in new as well as more buses to serve Rawang folk.

Bandar Country Homes Residents Association chairman Soong Beng Khoon said he looked forward to cleaner, brighter and timely bus service in Rawang.

Suliman looking at the MRT2 plan at his office. He wants the facility to be in place in Selayang for the growing community there.

“Frequently, the buses are late. It is why many local residents do not take the buses. With the single-bus company system, I hope things will improve,” he said.

Three months ago, Rawang folk in Taman Garing Utama and Taman Garing Permai within the vicinity were facing problem with disrupted bus services as the operator claimed that there were not enough customers at these route.

Selayang MIC division deputy chairman M.B Raja said he hoped to one day see Rawang made a transportation hub for those travelling north and south for the country.

“Rawang has a growing population, and improved public transportation is very vital to speed up its growth and bring even more development.”

Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) president Suliman Abd Rahman echoes the sentiment, noting that more and more people were moving to townships in Rawang and Selayang. Rawang is under the administration of MPS.

In view of the ever expanding commercial and property development in these areas, the council president is requesting SPAD to consider building an MRT station in Selayang.

“Bandar Baru Selayang has become a hub for government departments and facilities such as hospitals, colleges and markets.

“There are more than 150,000 people living here.

“The 56km-long Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya line passes through Selayang for about 900m. However, there is no station planned for Selayang in the approved RM23bil MRT2 project.

“It is very important for the people here to benefit from the modern public transportation.

“We need a station here, especially in Bandar Baru Selayang which is known as the central business district,” he pointed out.

Suliman said MPS Town Planning Department had submitted a proposal to SPAD and the State Economy Planning Unit in May explaining why Selayang was such an important place and justifying the need for an MRT2 station to be built in the town.

He added that the council received SPAD’s reply on June 15 stating that it was looking into MPS’ proposal.