KUALA LUMPUR: Rail services have become a popular way for Malaysians to return to their hometowns during the Chinese New Year season, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai(pic).
"We are glad that rail services have received good response. About 80% of the tickets offered by KTM Bhd during the Chinese New Year season were sold," he told reporters on Wednesday after distributing Chinese New Year goodie bags to commuters at KL Sentral.
Liow said KTM Bhd offered 170,000 tickets between Feb 10 to Feb 23 and had received good response.
"The Ministry always encourages the public to use rail services during festive season.
This can ease congestion on the roads which will in turn reduce the number of accidents," he said.
Liow said during the festive seasons, there were usually more than 200 deaths due to road accidents.
"On average, it is 19 deaths per day. The Transport Ministry hopes to reduce the number significantly," he said, adding that the Government's aspiration is to reduce the number of road accidents by half.