Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government has approved, in principle, the allocation of some RM63 million through the Public Transportation Trust Fund for upgrading the city's public transport system. Announcing this at a press conference in conjunction with his official visit to the City Bus Terminal near Wawasan Plaza, Friday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz also promised to help pursue the said allocation and have it delivered.
He said RM50million would go to the implementation of the South Link Terminal (Kepayan), while the other RM5million for the Wawasan bus terminal upgrading project, RM5mil for the construction of four Inter Terminal Link and Park-and-Ride facilities, and RM3million for the construction of bus stops as well as lay-bays for buses and taxis in the city.
Mohd Nazri, who is the Minister in charge of Legal and Parliament affairs, also commended the arrangement by City Hall to improve the public transport system here since 2006, which started with a Kota Kinabalu City Transportation Master Plan that was approved by the State Cabinet.
The master plan was divided into two phases. The first phase is from 2006 to 2012 followed by the second from 2012.
He said the current implementation of Phase One involves preparation of bus terminals which act as a stopover point or area for buses from outside the city to reduce traffic congestion, restructuring of the bus routes and implementation of the "City Bus", creation of a one-way city central as well as preparation of systematic stopover for buses and taxis.
The second phase is a long-term strategy to create a more modern public transportation system in the city like the LRT, Monorail and tramway, which Mohd Nazri said is a must for any city in the world.
He hoped the commuters would remain patient with the current implementation of the City Bus services as in the earlier stage of the implementation things may not be going smoothly or up to the public satisfaction.
This is just part of a familiarisation process that the city commuters are going through, he said, adding no elected Governments in the world would introduce or implement a new system or things that are not good or would hurt the people.
"Even at the Ministerial level, we never came up with any decision that is meant to make things difficult for the rakyat."
He, nevertheless, welcomed all complaints or suggestions from commuters on the city public transportation services and for City Hall and other relevant agencies to consider taking necessary action.
During the same occasion, Mohd Nazri also disclosed the Sandakan Municipal Council's plan to emulate the implementation of the City Bus service here in the district.
The Council also hoped he would help to pursue the RM17.5million which it had applied and was approved by the Federal Government for implementation years ago but have yet to receive it.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk V.K. Liew, Kota Kinabalu Mayor, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sabah Chairman, Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah were present.
