Malaysia

Tonymercury · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:53 am

New Straits Times

It looks good in the draft plan, what with the seemingly complete urban rail network and multi-coloured maps. But a city planner tells ELIZABETH JOHN that the transport blueprint for Kuala Lumpur has as many holes as a kitchen colander.

A QUARTER century in the planning business and Goh Bok Yen says he's never come across an urban transport blueprint like the one in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan. The entire focus of the plan is on the urban rail network, with 11 new and extension lines, and 119 new stations drawn into its multi-coloured maps for the city. In the plan's chapter on connectivity and accessibility, precious little is said about buses. There's not a word on taxis, says Goh in disbelief. And only silence on the need for new roads or even wider ones as the capital grows to house 600,000 more people in a dozen years from now.

Though the public transport share has only risen by five per cent between 1997 and 2005, the plan assumes that by 2020, there will be such a shift to public transport that demand for cars will reduce. The plan also assumes that with so many new urban rail lines planned, the number of buses needed could also be cut from 2,200 in 2010 to just 1,700, 10 years later.

New rail lines and fewer cars might sound heavenly but here's the problem: No one is certain how far the new rail lines in the draft plan comply with the actual plans of Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Berhad which manages public transport in the city, says Goh. The KL draft plan will allow the densest housing and commercial development around these proposed new rail stations. But if the two plans don't match or plans for new lines are shelved, there's a real fear hordes of city folk could be left stranded. Even as it stands, Goh, the planner of Mag Technical and Development Consultants, says he's not so sure the draft's new lines and stations are in the most suitable locations. In the first place, many lines and stations have been drawn into already crowded places where there may be no space for them. One example is Mont Kiara where a new rail line will have to squeeze between an international school and a high-rise condominium on a road, that is in reality, just 66 feet wide. Another is on Jalan Kelang Lama, where the line will have to run through a busy 50-foot-wide road that hosts a street side market in the morning and is double parked to death at night."A rail line is not just a track and station. It also means having enough space to allow feeder buses and cars to enter and leave the place, so we must have a road that's big enough. And we haven't even started talking about a car park!" Then there's the Transit Planning Zone at Jalan Parlimen that covers the National Monument-Lake Club-Lake Garden area. This will allow for higher density development and mixed use activities."Is that what we really need?" asked Goh, explaining that the choice of station sites and lines should be justified by estimated ridership figures, which the draft plan doesn't show.

Urban rail lines must be demand-driven, not the other way around. Putting the cart before the horse -- increasing population first -- could leave the city with no space for the lines and trains that would come later. "Rail lines are built at a huge cost, said Goh, at about RM500 million per kilometre. "So they must be viable in operation, economic and engineering terms. If not, you're just wasting public funds." But if all goes well and those rail lines are built, said Goh, the draft plan is still silent about how people will get to their final destination from the spanking new stations.

And that's another problem -- the draft plan doesn't identify the roles of other modes of transport within a comprehensive system. The draft plan doesn't tackle feeder bus services that should be ferrying residents to nearby shops or to bus and LRT stations.There's been no planning for amenities and facilities for taxis, a lifeline for many in this choked city. It hasn't mapped out the best forms of transport for each area either, said Goh. "A rail line is great but it's not door-to-door. And should a 40-foot bus be going down a 40-foot road?" For those 11 lines to be successful, the city will need the support of other transport modes or it will be repeating the mistakes it made with its first light rail transit lines. And there's no reason why the draft plan can't show this kind of planning when the maps are detailed enough to show individual house lots.

Goh also has reservations about the park-and-ride system in the draft plan, especially the 250-lot car park in Taman Maluri. Firstly, it's too few parking lots. Secondly, Taman Maluri is famous for its terrible traffic. "What's the use of park-and-ride, if people can't even get there? I'd really like to know the rationale for this," said Goh. "The idea is to keep people from bringing their cars into the city centre. Since 2.2 million people cross the Middle Ring Road II to get into KL, planners should be setting up park-n-ride where those drivers can access it."

The plan has so ruffled the shy, mild mannered transport planner that he's taken up invites to explain the plan's proposals to worried residents in the past week. But he's not just been talking about the problem proposals, Goh's also talked about the many silent issues. The draft plan says nothing of the fate of the several already committed road projects listed under the KL Structure Plan. There is also no acknowledgement of new roads that were proposed and roads identified as missing linkages under that earlier plan. It has not made any special provision for school buses and the many heavy vehicles that will have to enter the city to service the burgeoning retail sector and construction sites among others, said Goh. "They just haven't spent enough time thinking about the concept behind a comprehensive system."

If the draft plan is approved, the city council may be gazetting something they cannot construct or realise, said Goh. "We will end up with very high density areas with no railway links or adequate traffic dispersal capacity and worsen the already dismal situation we have today. "The city will look beautiful, like a world-- class city, but it won't be one."

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Tonymercury · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:27 am

Hill railway service closure catches many off-guard

GEORGE TOWN: Thirty-six pre-schoolers, who were all excited about going up to Penang Hill, were among the many disappointed local and foreign visitors caught off guard by the sudden closure of the hill railway service.

Their teacher Norzilah Abu Bakar said the pre-schoolers were looking forward to the visit.

Norzilah, 33, said the railway service authorities should have informed them about the closure.

The Penang Hill funicular train service has been closed down for maintenance work since 4pm on Wednesday.

Universiti Sains Pahang lecturer Jamal Rizal Razali said he drove seven hours from Kuantan to the site, hoping to enjoy the scenery at the peak.

“I have not been to Penang Hill. I feel frustrated,” he said.Chinese national Zhang Yi Feng, 19, said she had heard so much about the natural scenery and beauty of the place.

“I will come another day,” said Zhang, who came with her mother Liu Guo Ning, 42.

The Penang Chief Minister’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik said maintenance work was expected to take up to four months.

He said the train service was still open for limited use by Penang Hill residents.

Ng added that a check carried out by Public Works Department (JKR) engineers found defects on the cable between the funicular train service's middle station and the upper station and instructed the railway service to be closed down.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:59 am

Malaysia: The government has decided not to support an 8bn ringgit proposal by YTL Corp for a standard gauge high speed line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. A part-owner of the Kuala Lumpur airport rail link, YTL aimed to raise funding from the private sector if the government assisted with land acquisition.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:09 am

Sarawak to build railway network
By STEPHEN THEN

BINTULU: Sarawak is to embark on a pioneer project to build a railway network, the first ever railway project in this vast state.

The railway project will have a dual purpose - to provide a relatively cheaper yet reliable form of mass transportation for the people, and to facilitate the movement of raw materials and goods for the construction of the projects that will be carried out in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Tuesday said a railway system is the most viable and cheapest form of fast transportation for massive bulk of both goods and people.

''This will be the first railway in Sarawak. The main area involved will span the (320 km) stretch between Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah division. That area comprises 57% of Sarawak.

''The rail project will be a viable alternative of transportation in view of the constantly rising costs of fuel and other costs.

''The SCORE project will bring tremendous benefits and opportunities, not only in terms of industries, but also other spin-offs for the people of the state,'' he said at the state-level Conference of District officers and Residents held in this gas capital of Sarawak.

Taib, who is also the state's 1st Finance Minister and state's 1st Minister for Planning and Resources Management, however, did not disclose the cost of the railway project nor the date for the project to commence.

He said the Government will be spending some RM67bil to develop the basic infrastructure needed for SCORE to proceed.

''We have now obtained up to RM300bil in investment pledges. The majority will be from private sectors,'' he said.

Taib said the SCORE project will also see the development of the coal industry, which Sarawak has more than one billion tonnes in reserve.

He noted that up to 20,000 MWs of power will be developed within the next 30 years and during that period, Sarawak will be able to provide cheap and efficient electricity to the people in the state and country.

A RM1.5bil plant to produce halal food will also be constructed in the region, he added.

''The Federal Government had already allocated RM3bil to the state to kick-start SCORE,'' he said.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:05 am

First railway for Sarawak

BINTULU (Bernama) - Sarawak's first railway will be constructed within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.
He said the development of the railway would facilitate logistics growth in the 320 km regional corridor between Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah Division which would tap on cheaper energy resources available within the area.

Speaking when launching the Residents and District Officers' Conference here, he said rail transportation would be a cheaper alternative compared with the present mode of using cargo trucks.

Without revealing the cost of the railway project, he said its development would go on beyond 2020.

He said Score would be the final phase for the completion of Sarawak's development which planned to expedite the growth of the central part of the state, which evidently was lagging behind the northern and southern sides.

He added that the central part of Sarawak had been losing its workforce and entrepreneurs who had been migrating to either Kuching in the south or Miri in north due to the employment and business opportunities from the development there in the last 25 years.

Taib said the regional corridor project which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February was an opportunity for the state government to develop the central part further through federal government support after its efforts had been hindered by prohibitive costs, especially in infrastructure development.

Stressing that the state government would employ new strategies in this corridor development, he said that Score was projected to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments in the next 30 years.

He added that divisional residents and district officers in the state would need to work together in shaping the minds of the people within their jurisdictions to prepare to get the maximum benefits from the development of the corridor project.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:27 am

Balfour Beatty joint venture wins £300m Malaysia rail contract
Posted: 8th July 2008 | No Comments

BALFOUR Beatty Rail, in a joint venture with Ansaldo STS, has won a £300 million contract in Malaysia.

The contract is for the implementation of a rail systems package for the Ipoh-to-Padang Besar double-tracking project.

The scheme is part of a large railway investment by the Malaysian government to create a modern railway connection between Kuala Lumpur and the Thai border, with the long-term objective of establishing a Pan-Asian link connecting Singapore to China, Balfour Beatty said.

BB Rail — which will be involved in the design, supply and installation of electrification and power supply — says it will earn around £160 million from the deal. The project is for 54 months, and scheduled for completion in January 2013.

Malaysia’s ‘The Edge Daily’ newspaper said the award of the contract to Balfour Beatty and Ansaldo meant that the joint venture had beaten other notable international players, including German-based Siemens AG, France's Alstom and Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd, reported.

"We are delighted to continue our co-operation with the development of a modern, high-speed rail network in South-East Asia," said Balfour chief executive Ian Tyler.

"Balfour Beatty Rail has played an integral part in the development of the Malaysian rail network and this award is confirmation of continued customer confidence in our ability to implement complex rail systems on a large scale," he added.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:06 am

Ircon signed the contract for the 100 km Seremban - ?Gemas double-tracking project in May. Work is expected to take 48 months and cost around US$1bn. A joint venture of IJM and Norwest will undertake part of the work.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:31 am

July 10, 2008 21:14 PM
RapidKL Records Sharp Increase In Passengers

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd (RapidKL) recorded a sharp increase in passengers for its Light Rail Transit (LRT) and bus services since the increase in oil prices.

Its general manager (Communication Division) Ebi Azly Abdullah, in a statement issued Thursday, said that for its bus service, the increase was 7.5 percent, from 365,111 to 392,654 people daily.

He said the increase in LRT passengers was 3.9 percent, from 131,753 to 326,095 people daily.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and will take necessary steps to help the public cushion the increase in oil prices," he added.

Ebi Azly said RapidKL would introduce additional trains with larger capacity next year to cope with the increase in passengers using its LRT service.

"The reliability of RapidKL's LRT (STAR and PUTRA LRT) service is high, at 99.7 percent for its Kelana Jaya Line LRT and 99.8 for the Ampang line," he added.

-- BERNAMA

URL is:
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Tonymercury · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:18 am

August 06, 2008 16:46 PM
DPMM Expresses Interest In Gemas-Johor Baharu Double Track Railway Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM) has expressed its interest to be the main contractor for the Gemas-Johor Baharu double-tracking railway project.

DPMM president Syed Ali Alattas said the project worth RM9 billion is expected to be opened for tenders soon by the government.

Master Vendor Corporation Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of Yayasan DPMM, will be responsible for dividing the government's project by appointing contractors, professionals and Malay entrepreneurs capable of handling the work.

"We believe that we have the capability and capacity to handle the project with 200,000 members, out of whom 30,000 are registered contractors," he said at a media briefing here Wednesday.

To this end, Master Vendor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd in April this year to assist in the development of the railway project.

The two parties have agreed to form a consortium to undertake the project.

"They have agreed to support with the training of contractors as well as to finance it," Syed Ali said.

Under the MoU, China Railway will assist in providing the supply of railway materials, construction materials, expertise as well as helping Master Vendor to liaise with China's Eximbank to obtain financing facilities where necessary.

China Railway is one of the largest and most powerful mega-size multiple construction corporations as well as the largest project contractor in China.

Its businesses comprise construction project contracting, survey, design and consultation, industrial manufacturing, exploitation of real estate, capital operation and logistics.

It was reported in June that the government may call for tenders for the Gemas-Johor Baharu railway project by year-end.

The project involves building over 200 kilometres of parallel railway tracks, including stations, depots, halts, yards and bridges.

-- BERNAMA

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Tonymercury · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:43 am

KTMB wants review of firm repairing its EMU trains

KUALA LUMPUR: KTM Bhd (KTMB) has urged the Government to review the performance of the company appointed to repair its malfunctioning Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) to overcome the shortage of trains it is facing now.

KTMB managing director Datuk Mohd Salleh Abdullah said the review needed to be done as the company concerned could not carry out its duties effectively, causing delays in restoring the EMUs.

“Before this, we had 60 sets (EMUs) but after I took over the management of KTMB, only 39 sets were functioning with 21 taken by the company concerned for maintenance work,” said Mohd Salleh.

“The delays in getting back the EMUs taken for repairs has caused KTMB’s services to be affected.

“But consumers blame KTMB and accuse us of having no proper planning,” he added when opening the 47th annual general meeting KTMB Officers Association yesterday.

He added that purchasing new EMUs was not a simple matter as the specifications had to be suited to KTMB’s needs. – Bernama

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Tonymercury · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:48 am

The Star Online > Nation
Friday August 8, 2008

KTMB ordered to upgrade rolling stocks to boost capacity

RAWANG: In efforts to boost KTMB’s capacity, Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat has ordered the company to refurbish old and abandoned electrical multiple unit rail cars.

Refurbishing rolling stock is a faster and cheaper way to meet the demand from the increasing number of passengers, he explained.

“If we were to order new trains, it would take more than two years,” he said.

Refurbishing rolling stock did not mean a “cut and paste” job.

Ong stressed and added: “It involves the latest technology. It is not just repairing, that is why I do not want to use the word ‘repairing’.”

Ong said his ministry and KTMB were doing an evaluation on the cost efficiency, delivery and other factors of the project.

“We hope to complete our analysis by the end of the year so we can start on the refurbishing work as soon as possible,” he told reporters after attending the ground breaking ceremony of Scomi’s technology and manufacturing centre here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Scomi Engineering president Hilmy Zaini said Scomi, which has refurbished 150 Rapid buses, would be keen on the KTMB rolling stock refurbishment project if given the opportunity.

Hilmy added that it would also bid for the expansion of the KL monorail and Putra light rail transit systems.

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Tonymercury · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:04 am

Thursday August 21, 2008 MYT 3:33:23 PM
Two extra LRT lines being studied
By SIM LEOI LEOI

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) is still carrying out a land and engineering study on the proposed two additional light rail transit networks in the Klang Valley.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat told Tony Pua (DAP - Petaling Jaya Utara) in Parliament on Thursday that the study would focus on the 32 km rail line and 24 new LRT stations.

"The two lines - the STAR network which runs from Sri Petaling to Putra Heights and the Putra network from Kelana Jaya to Putra Heights - will be constructed as soon as the study is completed.

"The project will be carried out via private financing infrastructure scheme. We have not yet determined the cost," he said.

To another question from Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN - Batu Pahat) on limiting the number of private vehicles from entering the city, Ong said the matter of public transport in Kuala Lumpur came under the purview of the Federal Territories Ministry.

"It was brought up for discussion during the Cabinet Committee for public transport meeting," he said.

Members of Parliament from both sides of the divide voiced their unhappiness in the Government's decision not to reduce the prices of fuel at the petrol pumps before Sept 1. Salahuddin Ayob (PAS - Kubang Kerian) and Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN - Kalabakan) had complained that the prices at petrol pumps should be revised daily according to the ups and downs according to the global markets.

In reply, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha said it would have been good for the Government if it could revise the prices at the petrol pumps daily.

"However, because the Government still gives a 30 sen subsidy on the fuel price, it has to calculate this according to the average price each month," he said.

URL is:
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Tonymercury · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:51 am

LRT firm warned for poor service
By Kristina George
2008/08/23

PUTRAJAYA: Syarikat Prasa-rana Negara Bhd (SPNB), the owner of the two light rail transit (LRT) systems in Kuala Lumpur, has been issued a warning letter by the Railway Department under the Transport Ministry following the numerous complaints received pertaining to the poor quality of its services. Although SPNB is a government-linked company under the Ministry of Finance, Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said his ministry supervised all rail operations.

Under the Railway Act 1991, one of the Transport Ministry's responsibilities is to approve or revoke the operating licences of train services and ensure safe rail operations.

He was speaking at a press conference after his ministry's post-cabinet meeting. He was asked to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dissatisfaction with the commuter and LRT services.

Abdullah took rides on the KTM Komuter and LRT rail services on Thursday. He wanted immediate improvements to be made as the existing services were not systematic and there were not enough coaches and comprehensive coverage.

Ong said KTM Bhd had taken back 30 units of the electronic multiple unit (EMU) coaches it had sent to the Malaysian Korean Rail Corporation (MKRU) as there was a delay in the overhauling of the coaches.

Under the contract, MKRC was scheduled to have overhauled 15 units by July.

"However, checks by ministry officials showed that it only managed to overhaul seven as at last month.

"As the work progress is very slow, we have no choice but to pull back the EMUs yesterday to be overhauled by other companies which we will decide on later."

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Tonymercury · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:47 am

Extracts from Budget speech

Improving Public Transportation

29.The Government will continue to encourage greater utilisation of public transportation, in the context of improving the productivity and quality of life. I have recently experienced for myself the condition of the public transportation system in our capital city. I believe, a more efficient, reliable and integrated public transportation, which provides seamless travel and greater frequency of services, is required.

30.RapidKL and RapidPenang were set up to improve public transportation in the Klang Valley and Pulau Pinang. Currently, RapidKL provides bus services along 166 routes, covering more than 980 housing areas. Of this, 14% are unprofitable social routes not plied by other public transport companies. This is in line with the Government’s aspiration to provide better public transportation for the benefit of Malaysians, especially those in the lower income group. On average, 400,000 passengers use bus services daily, while 350,000 use RapidKL rail services. Overall, RapidKL provides 44% of total public transport services in the Klang Valley.

31.RapidPenang provides bus services on 33 routes in 106 housing areas with ridership of 46,000 passengers daily, constituting 60% of total bus services in Pulau Pinang. To widen the service network, 200 additional buses will be provided, bringing the total to 350. With this, RapidPenang services will be extended to cover 14 new routes and ridership is estimated to increase to 120,000 passengers daily by end of 2009.

32.To further improve the efficiency of public transportation, a sum of RM35 billion will be expended during the period 2009 to 2014. This includes projects to enhance the capacity of existing rail services, build new rail tracks, increase the number of buses, as well as provide better infrastructure facilities.

33.The existing LRT system in the Klang Valley will be extended by 30 km, that is 15 km respectively, for Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines. Upon completion in 2011, the extensions are expected to benefit 2.6 million residents in the Subang Jaya-USJ and Kinrara-Puchong areas, compared with 1.9 million currently.

34.At the same time, 35 train carriages for the Kelana Jaya Line have been procured costing RM1.3 billion and these trains will be fully operational by early 2010.

35.With these measures, the capacity of the Kelana Jaya Line will more than double from the current 160,000 passengers daily to 350,000, while for the Ampang Line, it will increase from 150,000 to 280,000.

36.To further expand the urban rail service network in the Klang Valley, a new LRT line will be built along a 42 km route from Kota Damansara to Cheras. This new line, with a capacity exceeding 300,000 passengers daily, will, upon completion in 2014, provide rail services to more than one million residents in the housing, industrial and financial areas in the vicinity.

37.The Government also took over the assets and operations of KL Monorail, from a private operator in 2007. Several measures were taken to improve the operational efficiency and maintenance. Following this, the twelve trains acquired are now fully operational. Since the takeover, total ridership has increased by more than 10% from an average of 51,000 passengers daily to 57,000 currently. This takeover will contribute towards establishing a more integrated urban rail service in the Klang Valley.

38.The commuter rail services of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will be upgraded. Towards this end, rehabilitation works are being undertaken on the existing 20 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and are expected to be completed in 2009. An additional 13 new units of EMUs will be acquired and be operational by 2011. With this, the capacity of the KTM Commuter is expected to increase from the current 350,000 to 500,000 passengers daily. To expand the commuter rail services network, a 7.5 km Sentul-Batu Caves line is under construction and is expected to be completed by 2010.

39.In addition, the two major projects being implemented to improve KTMB services are the Double-tracking Electric Rail for Seremban-Gemas and Ipoh-Padang Besar, which are expected to be completed in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

40.An integrated transport terminal is being built in Bandar Tasik Selatan, to provide facilities for inter-urban taxis and buses, especially from the southern region in the Peninsular. The modern five-floor terminal can accommodate more than 130 taxis and 100 buses, complete with parking facilities and commercial lots, and will provide connectivity to the Ampang Line, ERL and KTM Commuter as well as urban taxis and buses in the Klang Valley. This terminal is expected to be operational in 2011.

41.To provide facilities for inter-urban taxis and buses from the northern region, a new integrated transport terminal will be built. This terminal will contribute towards further reducing traffic congestion in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

42.Public transport operators play an important role in ensuring a comprehensive network of services, as well as providing more efficient, safe and high quality services, both in urban and rural areas. To reduce their operating costs, the Government has recently increased the quota for diesel subsidy for public transportation. In addition, the Government will undertake the following measures:

First:Provide a soft loan facility of RM3 billion under the Public Transportation Fund, administered by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), to finance the acquisition of buses and rail assets; and

Second:Reduce toll charges by 50% for all buses, except at border entry points, namely Johor Causeway, Second Link and Bukit Kayu Hitam, for a period of two years, effective 15 September 2008. The Government will provide compensation to toll operators for their loss of revenue, estimated at RM45 million per year.

43.In addition, bus operators will be given sales tax exemption on the purchase of locally assembled new buses and Accelerated Capital Allowance on the expenditure incurred. Further, the road tax will be reduced to RM20 a year for all bus and taxi operators, including rent-a-car and limousine operators.

44.The Public Land Transportation Commission will be established under the Prime Minister’s Department, to plan, integrate, regulate and improve the overall public transportation services. This single authority is important to facilitate planning and coordination, as well as improve enforcement. The Commission is expected to commence operations by mid 2009.

Development Of Growth Corridors

89.The Government remains committed towards corridor development initiatives to ensure more regionally balanced socio-economic development of the nation. The intention is to provide more investment, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the various regions. Thus far, all the five economic corridors have been launched and initiatives, as outlined in the respective Development Masterplans, are beginning to be implemented. The five economic corridors are Iskandar Malaysia, NCER, East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and Sabah Development Corridor (SDC). In the Midterm Review of the 9MP, an additional ceiling of RM10 billion has been allocated for the development expenditure of the corridors, of which RM6 billion is provided in the 2009 Budget.

90.To further strengthen private investment in Iskandar Malaysia, an additional allocation of RM300 million is provided under the Strategic Investment Fund. The Fund is to finance the implementation of private-public partnership projects, in the areas of public transportation, healthcare services, education and creative industries. These are priority socio-economic areas, where Government will support the project viability, but with the private sector bearing the project risks. In healthcare, for example, instead of the Government constructing and operating hospitals, the provision of such public services can be partly met through the Government procuring such services from private sector providers.

91.Iskandar Malaysia will develop an integrated public transportation system, initially focusing on enhancing bus services by working together with existing bus operators. In the area of healthcare, a centre of excellence for postgraduate teaching and research will be established in partnership with private sector hospitals. Iskandar Malaysia will also set up and operate not-for-profit schools, initially on a pilot basis. These schools will have a mixed intake of Government and privately funded students. In addition, a creative cluster will be developed in Iskandar Malaysia, with funds channelled towards enhancing the capabilities of local creative talent.

Tony Bailey
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Tonymercury · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:47 am

ADDITIONAL trains will be in operation for the LRT and KTM Komuter lines by the third quarter of 2009, doubling the current capacity of the rail system in the Klang Valley.

The Kelana Jaya and Ampang line will be extended while a RM570mil Integrated Transport Terminal at Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

The disabled-friendly terminal, which has a capacity of 200,000, will integrate LRT, KTM Komuter and Express Rail Link (ERL) services with bus and taxi services.

KTM Bhd (KTMB) will also procure 10 trains (electric multiple units) to enhance its services in the Klang Valley.

For interstate services, three Electrified Double Tracking projects are under way and will be completed between 2010 and 2012. The Sentul-Batu Caves stretch will be ready by 2010, the Seremban-Gemas by 2012 and Ipoh-Padang Besar by 2013

Tony Bailey
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