Smooth ride ahead: Dr Wee launching the Mutiara Rentas Desa stage bus service in Kota Baru. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The government has allocated RM4.11mil to Kelantan this year to ensure that the newly-launched Mutiara Rentas Desa stage bus service is successfully implemented, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Transport Minister said more than 60,000 passengers had used the service, with an average rate of increase in the number of passengers from February to August at 51% every month.
“E-Mutiara, which operates the Mutiara Rentas Desa service, is a bumiputra company with over 30 years of experience as a bus service operator.
“Mutiara Rentas Desa is now operating with 13 new minibuses for nine routes covering a daily route distance of 9,920.6km.
“This minibus is appropriate to the road conditions and the current number of passengers.
“Mutiara Rentas Desa also plans to expand its services with the addition of 14 new minibuses in phases by the end of this year,” he said in a Facebook post after launching the service at Kota Baru, Kelantan, yesterday.
Dr Wee noted that it was common knowledge that stage bus services in Kelantan started in 1947, but were interrupted for a long period of time, causing difficulties for commuters, especially in rural areas.
“They had to use other means of transport and pay higher fares,” he said.
In addition, Dr Wee said all the buses used were equipped with an electronic ticket system and GPS to enable bus movements and schedule compliance to be monitored effectively.
“This is also to fulfil the conditions that have been set for the implementation of the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund (ISBSF).
“The Transport Ministry, through the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) as the regulatory agency, is always trying to design a more efficient stage bus system in order to help improve the productivity and standard of living of the population.
“The two main initiatives implemented by the government through Apad for stage bus services in Peninsular Malaysia are the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) through the MyBAS branding and ISBSF,” he added.
Also present at the launch were deputy state secretary (development) Datuk Dr Tengku Mohamed Faziharudean Tengku Feissal representing the Mentri Besar, deputy state secretary (management) Zainal Abidin Yusuf, senator Datuk Nicole Wong, Johor exco member Ling Tian Soon, Road Transport Department director-general Zailani Hashim, Apad director-general Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri, Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun, Konsortium E-Mutiara Bhd executive chairman Che Ibrahim Che Ismail and Hino Motor Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Atsushi Uchiyama.
