Bus Rapid Transit - the answer to Penang Island's public transport system

While Anil Netto is campaigning for a return of the tram in Penang Island, I am convinced by a friend whose family is involved in the bus transport business for three generations, that Bus Rapid Transit should be the answer to overcome Penang’s present and future public transport problems and that there is at present no critical mass for monorail. Thus it can be considered a blessing in disguise with its shelving. BRT can also complement the Tram, which is one of the cheapest means of transport, and an added attraction to Penanag's new status as a World Heritage site.

I have searched and found some useful information in Bus rapid transit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , Friends of BRT even on YouTube - Making Things Happen with Bus Rapid Transit, Part I which showed successful operations in Curitiba, Brazil; in Bogota, Bolivia; and in Brisbane, Australia. Obviously, we need an in depth study by professionals.

In Bus Rapid Transit Home Page its slogan FASTER ¤ SOONER ¤ CHEAPER ¤ BETTER sums it best. It is based in Oakland, California, USA.

“Bus Rapid Transit, (BRT), is a revolutionary new approach to public transit that offers the speed, style and dignity that it will take to attract a tremendous number of new transit riders, while dramatically improving service for existing passengers.”

I happened to ask my friend, ‘why are you not offering your expertise to Penang?’ and he replied that he had tried before under the previous state government but they were only interested in instant solution. He added that it takes time to come up with a comprehensive and integrated mass transit system. Even with the present Rapid Penang, he is of the opinion that it is going to fail in a few years because it was only a quick fix. He advised that it is time to initiate a replacement for Rapid instead of waiting until it fails before taking action.

He had even considered the fact that the east coast has limited land while the west coast has ample cheap land separated by moutain terrain which has to be looked into. Presently, even school buses refused to take the route and many leave the students to walk to their destinations.

In my opinion, a federal initiative in running a state bus company is likely to fail because this industry is cash-based and good management and internal controls are vital to its successful operation. There are a number of ways which can cause failures, like theft of takings by driver/conductor, pilferage of spare parts, rough handling and poor maintenance of vehicles, sourcing of suppliers for own benefit at the expense of the company and so on.

A suggested 70:30 partnership with the state government, with the operator putting up the bulk of the capital seems ideal. In business, risk takers, as opposed to public fund users, are naturally bound to run it successfully. The likely snag is the question of cooperation from the Federal Government whose approval is necessary for the bus company’s licence.

In line with YAB Lim Guan Eng’s policy of CAT, I am sticking my neck out to openly suggest a meeting to discuss with this bus operator who has the track record of running successful bus companies and has the passion to see it through as a personal challenge and dream of putting in place a comprehensive BRT in Penang Island.

I am just someone who has been shying away from taking up responsibilities for too long and taking this as a challenge to be constructive in some ways instead of being just an arm-chair critic. I am also worried that this approach is unconventional and therefore open to criticisms.

It is also because of the perceived ‘punishment’, which the federal government is meting out to Penangites for having voted in the opposition, which I feel, we should try our best to put our heads together and prove to them that we can solve our problems despite the cutting of funds.

I have nothing to lose but Penang will lose an opportunity if BRT is not considered an option, and this opinion comes from someone whose family is synonymous with bus operations and coach-building.