Options for SPAD, Klang Valley transport pass and e-hailing being studied

KUALA LUMPUR: The absorption of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and its 997 staff into the Transport Ministry is still being discussed.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said despite the move, all of SPAD's functions, including licensing, studies and enforcement efforts, will continue as usual.

"We are still at the disscussion stage on how to absorb the functions of SPAD.

"The Commission has 997 staff as of now. From the total, 372 are enforcement officers," he told reporters after his working visit to SPAD headquarters at Platinum Sentral on Friday (June 1).

Loke explained that the 372 officers will directly be absorbed under the Ministry's Road Transport Department (RTD or JPJ).

"For the other units such as SPAD's planning and policy unit, we are still studying our options on how to absorb them into the Transport Ministry," he said.

Over the past week, Loke has visited the Road Transport Department and Road Safety Department (JKJR) to hold discussions and exchange ideas that can be adopted.

He also noted that any further move to repeal or to amend the Land Public Transport Act 2010 will be brought in the upcoming parliament meeting.

"We have yet to make a final decision, but in principle it will be under the purview of the Transport Ministry," said Loke.

On a separate matter, he said the Ministry is also studying the mechanism on how to implement a monthly RM100 unlimited pass for public transport usage in the Klang Valley, which is part of Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.

"A mechanism to implement it has been proposed to me, but there will be a huge financial implication to the government. I will first have to bring it to the Cabinet for approval," he said.

Aside from that, he also has given SPAD a month to prepare a comprehensive report on the direction of and to improve the e-hailing and taxi services in the country.

"I expect it to be ready in July and we will make the necessary announcement to improve these sectors.

On the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) link project worth an estimated RM4bil, Loke said that the government would proceed with it but has asked for an extension before the joint-venture agreement can be signed.

He explained that the postponement of the joint-venturing signing was done to allow the feasibility study to be conducted first and to be presented to the Cabinet.