January 01, 2010

The Star

Ong: 2010 will see transformation of Transport Ministry

This year will be a year of transformation for the Transport Ministry, Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.
 
Ong said as the minister entrusted with the National Key Result Area of improving urban public transport, he would focus on several targets.
 
For 2010, he would ensure the completion of the process for procuring 40 new six-car trains for KTM Komuter.
 
“This is important so that the trains can be delivered by mid-2012,” he said in his New Year message in his blog yesterday.
 
Ong said he would be launching innovative programmes to improve bus services.

 
“Four Bus Expressway Transit corridors will be launched in January 2010. The services will use under-utilised highways to connect high catchment areas with Kuala Lumpur city centre,” he said.
 
He added that he would complete the detailed engineering study for the first Bus Rapid Transit system in 2011.
 
“Bus Rapid Transits are specialised bus services running on segregated bus lanes, similar to the successful operations in Bogota, Columbia. Two more BRT corridors will be launched by 2012,” he said.
 
Ong said he would also push for integrated smart ticketing for Klang Valley’s public transport and reorganise transport terminals within Kuala Lumpur to cater for inter-city, regional, and local bus traffic.
 
Another focus, he added, would be the improved facilities for the disabled in train stations, upgrade station-to-station connectivity, and roll out more park and ride facilities.
 
In the aviation sector, he said the Government’s move to open up the nation’s economy had been given a push with the liberalisation of the aviation sector.
 
In the maritime sector, Ong said the Ad-Hoc Committee on Administration and Good Governance for the Port Klang Free Zone had come up with many good suggestions to uphold transparency and accountability.
 
“These are very sound and practical suggestions which are being implemented at different levels, not only in Port Klang but also at other federal-run ports like Penang and Pasir Gudang in Johor,” he said.

      
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