Dustyhawk :: Broken Mirror

Let us start by saying, for the first time ever we have a Prime Minister that now knows how we the citizens of this country feel about the atrocious public transport that plagues our country like the bubonic plague of the middle ages. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the current Prime Minister of Malaysia took it to himself to find out what makes the citizen pissed about the public transportation service.

Setting aside protocol, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took rides on the commuter and LRT rail services from Serdang to the city centre yesterday to get a feel of the transport system used by many of the citizens. And by the gods that roam the earth, he is not please at all and with it he rages with anger with the Ministry of Transportation.

Serge would commend his bravery to face the truth of it all. Our public transportation sucks bad like getting a fellatio from someone who uses more teeth. What is surprising is not what the Prime Minister did, but from the reply from the Ministry of Transportation :

The Transport Ministry has limited say over the LRT operator’s capacity to meet passenger demand and comfort level, said Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

He clarified that two LRT systems – the Ampang line and Kelana Jaya line - were operated by RapdidKL while the asset owner was Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) – both Government-linked companies under the Finance Ministry.

Jesus fuckking Christ, how can they say such a thing ?How can they have “limited say” ? Are they not the Ministry of Transportation ? Are they not the governing body of the public transport in Malaysia as well as the private (personal) transportation ? This is just ludicrous. But we have to remember that this is Malaysia and such fuckeries are bound to happen. Bound ? Nah, it’s more like, likely/will happen.

Let us say this, Malaysia should look south and look at that small island known as Singapore. It’s a small country, younger than us and their public transport is efficient. Some might say that because it is a small country, it is easy to handle the public transport system. Bullshit!

As a person who travels to Singapore at least once every three months, let us tell you how they are. Firstly, buses and taxis are on time and on schedule. During peak hours you can see at least one bus passing by a bus stand every 15 minutes and at off-peak , around 20-30 minutes.

These buses do not stop until they get a full load, they move after stopping for about 2-3 minutes. In that way, they will reach their next destination within the allocated time. Even the taxis are the same, you are guranteed of seeing a taxi passing by major roads every 10 minutes. And at other areas, 15-20 minutes. On top of that, when you call for a taxi.. they come for you and only for you.

Unlike the taxi drivers in Malaysia, those in Singapore knows their streets. We here in this forsaken land have to ask if they know the place and in some cases we have to guide them. Singapore, if they don’t know..we can take their name; contact the Ministry of Transport and get their license revoke. Singapore might be famous for it’s fine and summons; but for the love of all that is good, transportation there is love and to die for.

Let us not start on their railway service, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). It’s carriage is longer than our standard LRT, yet they can arrive at each of their destination in time according to schedule. Even if they had some delays, they announce it through their PA System. For us, it is only after 1-2 hours.. only then do we get to know what is going on and when they do tell; it’s mostly stated “technical problems”. Singapore, they’ll tell you things such as “electrical failure at this station, estimated time of repair 30 minutes” and so on.

Serge hopes with the Prime Minister having a feel for our public transport, that something good will happen. Yet we must not hope much from our government, for most of them will do a stunt like this to show to the public that they care for them.

Source: PM quietly takes public transport to experience commuters’ problems