KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Berhad must continue submitting detailed weekly reports on malfunctioning lifts and escalators at public transport stations to ensure facilities remain safe and reliable for commuters, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the reports were among the key performance indicators (KPIs) monitored by the Transport Ministry, covering the number of lifts and escalators that were operational and those requiring repairs.
"Every week, Prasarana must report how many escalators are not working and how many lifts are not functioning," he told reporters after launching the Masjid Jamek LRT Station Beautification Project here on Thursday (Oct 22).
Loke said faulty lifts and escalators were among the major issues that had drawn frequent complaints from commuters when he returned to the ministry about four years ago.
However, he said the situation had improved significantly following maintenance efforts and closer monitoring by Prasarana's management.
"Now, we rarely receive such complaints. Even when there are complaints, action is taken much faster," he said.
He stressed that maintaining station facilities was as important as ensuring efficient train services, as commuters' overall experience extended beyond their journeys on board.
Loke also called for better pedestrian connectivity between public transport stations and surrounding buildings, particularly through covered walkways.
He said gaps in existing pedestrian routes continued to pose challenges for commuters, despite improvements made in several parts of Kuala Lumpur.
"If there is any gap between a building and a station, we must close that gap. It must be seamless," he said.
Loke urged Prasarana and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to work together to ensure pedestrian walkways were properly connected without forcing commuters to walk through uncovered or inaccessible sections.
He said better first- and last-mile connectivity was essential to encouraging more people, including tourists, to use public transport.
The minister also highlighted plans to improve pedestrian infrastructure across 22km of Kuala Lumpur, describing the initiative as a positive step towards making the city more accessible.
He said the ministry's priority remained ensuring that public transport was not only safe, efficient and reliable, but also supported by well-maintained and accessible facilities.
"The passenger experience does not depend solely on the train journey, but also on the entire journey until they reach their destination," he added.
