Continue Kamunting bus service, urge commuters

Passengers are hoping that the Rapid Kamunting bus services will continue for their convenience.

THE news of Rapid Kamunting bus services ceasing operations has brought much despair to regular passengers.

Many people in Kamunting and Taiping only have praises for the service that started in 2016, an initiative between Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.

Several regular passengers held a peaceful protest at the Rapid bus depot in Kamunting, requesting for the services to continue.

Christina Ho, 60, said she used the bus service at least five times a week to go to Taiping town or to the hospital from her house in Kamunting.

The bus fare, she said, was only 50sen for senior citizens and the bus drivers were very caring.

Ho said she had heard from the bus drivers that the services would be discontinued this month due to lack of funds.

“The buses are in a very good condition, and it is user-friendly to senior citizens and the disabled.

“The current buses plying the route are old, dangerous and unsafe, ” she added.

M. Shanti, 37, a hospital clerk, uses the service daily to commute to work.

She said she only paid RM2 each way for the 45-minute journey.

“I don’t have a car or motorcycle, and have been relying on the bus service over the past four years.

“The other buses plying the route are not safe. They are old and unreliable, ” she noted.

Another passenger who only wished to be known as Phang, 72, hoped that the service would not be stopped.

She said the bus service was senior citizen-friendly, and it was very easy for them to get on and off the bus.

“The drivers are very friendly and concerned for the elderly, ” she highlighted.

Mary Gabriel, 59, said as a tailor, she needed to go to town frequently to buy materials.

“I was shocked and sad when I heard that the service would end.

“It is very convenient using Rapid Kamunting, so I hope the service will continue, ” she urged.

State infrastructure, energy, water and public transportation committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkaply Harun, when contacted, said the state government was informed in mid-November about the suspension of the bus service due to high operational costs.

He said Rapid came under the Federal Government and that the state government had discussed with the Perak Economic Planning Unit about a takeover process.

Mohd Zolkaply said he had chaired a meeting over the issue and by next year, the state would take over the bus service.

“But to do so, we need to discuss about routes and initiate a tender process, and that will take at least four months.

“Rapid had decided to stop the service in December, but we are in negotiations for it to continue until the state takes over.

“We hope to launch the RM1 people bus package service programme, ” he added.