(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): As an initial response, DAP welcomes the announcement on the RM 10 billion plan to improve public transport in the Klang Valley by Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak yesterday.  

DAP is especially encouraged that our call for extension of rail-based services to Puchong, Subang Jaya, USJ and Cheras has been heeded by the Cabinet Committee on Transport.

We would like the Government to clarify whether the new 30km line from Damansara to Cheras will be connected to other rail-based services at some point or a ‘stand-alone’ piece. Our position is that it must be integrated to achieve synergy and maximum utility.  

DAP urges the Government to make integration the chief goal in urban transport planning without further delay. We propose the following immediate measures:

Ø      The Monorail Station in Jalan Tun Sambatan is the symbol of a ‘disintegrated’ system. The Government should immediately link to

          KL Sentral   to show its commitment to an integrated system.

Ø      The LRT system should be one system where passengers pay only one fare when change from formerly Putra Line to formerly STAR Line.

Ø      Negotiations for Monorail to be connected to LRT and Kommuter should begun immediately.

Further, the safety of public transport should top government’s priority.

I will be presenting DAP’s fuller response and proposals on public transport during the Budget Debate.