The disabled can ride for free on Prasarana trains and buses from Feb 1

PETALING JAYA: Disabled persons will be able to ride on all Prasarana trains and buses for free from February, says the Transport Ministry.

Its Minister Anthony Loke said this initiative is part of Prasarana's corporate social responsibility agenda and is expected to benefit disabled riders in the Klang Valley, Penang and Kuantan, Pahang.

“The free ridership programme will be open to all disabled persons who hold the government's official disability card (OKU card)," he told reporters after launching the Women's Only Coach pilot project on the MRT Kajang Line on Thursday (Dec 21).

It will be available on all Prasarana rail services in the Klang Valley such as the MRT and LRT and its bus services in the Klang Valley, Penang and Kuantan.

At present, persons with disabilities are given a 50% discount on Prasaran buses and trains.

The initiative is a joint effort between the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Transport Ministry.

Those who hold a government-issued OKU card will have to apply for a special concession card at any Prasarana ticketing office from next year.

“We are making the final adjustments to our ticketing service in order to implement this.

“The terms and conditions of the free ridership programme will be announced soon.

"We just wanted to announce this before the end of the year so that people can look forward to it,” Loke said.

In response, Deputy Women, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad thanked the Transport Ministry for announcing the initiative.

“We proposed this before as it would really help people with disabilities.

"We are thankful that we are finally able to make it happen next year,” said Noraini, who was also at Thursday's launch.