'Tuk tuk' a suggestion, says SPAD

KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) today said the idea to introduce the motorised tricycle popularly known as the "tuk tuk" by the end of the year was just a suggestion to provoke discussion among the public about cheaper alternatives to public transport.
"We just said that it was an interesting idea because other Asean cities have introduced it," SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said.
"We just thought that it would be an interesting form of para-transit. We must get used to public discussion, when we (SPAD) come out with any statement, we can't just decide, we do not have the power, we just want to provoke discussion among the public," he said, adding that the prime minister had already advised SPAD to engage the public when implementing any transport programme.
"That's what we do, we engage the public, we will hear and we will discuss," he said, adding that to actually implement this would take a long time because there would have to be licences issued for the vehicles and the drivers besides getting approval of the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Syed Hamid was speaking to the press after a contract signing ceremony between SPAD, Cityliner Sdn Bhd and MARA Liner Sdn Bhd to roll out new stage bus services in Seremban and Kangar respectively, thus providing the people with more efficient and reliable services.
Plans are also in place to introduce the services in Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu and Kuching by this year through a RM100 million investment by the government.
The investment will improve access across these five cities, where buses remain the backbone of public transportation.