NGO slams SPAD for failing to engage public transport users

KUALA LUMPUR: A public transport non-governmental organisation (NGO) has slammed Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) for its failure to engage with public transport users on various issues.

National Public Transport Users Association (4PAM) president Ajit Johl said it is high time for the commission to take into account public inputs in the wake of the recent announcement of fare hike for rail and taxi services.

"As a sole NGO in the country representing the interest of public transport users, we have never been engaged in discussion for any issue or sought for feedback when the commission was drafting the new tariff for LRT, Monorail, KTM, taxi, stage and express bus as well as the Sunway BRT fare structure," said a discontent Ajit to theSun.
In a stinging criticism towards the commission, the NGO asked for SPAD executives to "walk the talk".
"I wonder if SPAD officials take public transport to work or a bus ride at least once a week? Do they know what the users often have to go through?" asked Ajit.
He reminded the commission that public transport users are the biggest stakeholders and it is imperative for SPAD to provide an avenue for discussion since public transport service is "after all, for the rakyat."

"For example, the ongoing taxi lab that is being organised to restructure the industry, why are we not invited?" he asked, adding that the 4PAM was also sidelined from attending last week's Land Public Transport Symposium 2015 in the capital city.

As an affiliate with the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA), he said, 4PAM's objective is to promote public transport usage to all Malaysians and stressed that safety, cost and quality of service should never be compromised.

"We understand the need to strike a balance between running a public transport service and raising the fare due to cost factor," he said.
"But what SPAD should have done is to listen to commuters' expectations on the level of service to justify the fare increase."

"One clear example is the taxi issue. In spite of everything, why are we still facing cabbies who refuse to use the meter, even though there's already a fare increase in March? We have been saying all along that fare increase is never the answer to improve the service and it would make the public to seek cheaper alternative including illegal 'teksi sapu' service such as Uber or GrabCar. And look what is happening to the taxi industry now," he added.

Asked if 4PAM had initiated formal communication with the commission, Ajit replied: "We have written twice to SPAD requesting for a discussion and till today, SPAD has not officially reply."