Mohd Ali suggests Melaka govt diversify public transport system

MELAKA: The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam on Wednesday (Aug 24) suggested that the state government diversify its public transport system to improve the quality of services offered.

This, included, upgrading facilities for senior citizens, pregnant women and children, he said.

"As a tourism state, Melaka continues to be the focus of visitors with the country’s transition to the endemic phase and through my observation, most tourists tend to use their own vehicles to visit the places of attraction.

"Therefore, the state government needs to get the public's interest in making public transport the preferred mode of transport by improving the quality of the services offered," he said in his speech at an investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 73rd birthday celebration at Seri Negeri here today.

At the ceremony of the first awarding session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was awarded the Melaka State First Degree which carries the title of Datuk Seri Utama.

Ismail Sabri heads the list of 347 recipients of the state awards and honours this year. He was conferred the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka , which carries the title "Datuk Seri Utama”.

Mohd Ali Rustam said the number of routes, as well as frequency, should be increased to make the public transport service more relevant to the public.

He said Panorama Melaka, the main public transport operator in the state, should increase the number of buses and look for opportunities to facilitate access to services using integrated technology.

Micro-mobility vehicles should be made one of the modes of transport in the state in line with the latest technological changes, he said and called on the local authorities to facilitate the use of the technology.

He also hoped that the state government would expedite the implementation of the 5G Network Pilot Project involving 133 locations to bridge the digital divide in the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, in his congratulatory and loyalty speech at the ceremony, said under the First Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan, Melaka had received an allocation of RM359mil for the implementation of 169 projects. - Bernama