The govt to ensure projects roll out with minimal delays: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is aggressively pushing to meet its target of 40% public transport model share for Greater Kuala Lumpur and an average of 15% for other capital cities within the next 15 years.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today the government has rolled out a host of public transport initiatives as part of its drive towards achieving the target by 2030.
"These include improving the main rail line in the Klang Valley, down south and to the east coast of the peninsula; improvements on monorail and LRT services' capacity, a bus performance monitoring hub system; a new taxi business model; promotion of park and ride facilities; and an automated fare collection system," he said.
He said with Malaysia becoming more progressive, the public transport system also needs to keep pace with the progress in a manner that was sustainable and eco-friendly.
Giving some insights into the transport sector in Malaysia to the 500 delegates from 30 countries attending the 16th International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Asia-Pacific assembly here, Ahmad Zahid highlighted some of Malaysia's successes and upcoming projects, including:
» Rapid KL's LRT Line Extension Project, completed recently, and scheduled to provide for an additional 300,000 daily commuters;
» the opening of phase 1 of the MRT Line 1 from Sungai Buloh to Kajang involving 12 stations and an elevated track of 21km in December;
» completion of Phase 2 in July 2017 with an additional 30 stations and 30km of seamless travel;
» Putrajaya Urban Rail project, which is in the pipeline.
» new taxi business model;
» second Bus Rapid Transit project for the Klang Valley, which is in the pipeline, and
» Stage Bus Service Transformation Programme for 11 capital cities in Malaysia, which has rolled out.
He said the government will ensure no projects are delayed and if delays are inevitable, they will be at the very minimal.
"We are committed to ensuring all plans go well," he said, adding it is also crucial for businesses and stakeholders to be given the chance to participate in the planning of the transport infrastructure.
Talking on the manpower shortage, he said, although there are about two million foreign workers in the country, employers are still facing a shortage of workers, resulting in delays in some projects.
Ahmad Zahid said the government is fine-tuning the process of hiring foreign workers.
The Cabinet last Thursday lifted the freeze on hiring foreign workers for four sectors – manufacturing, construction, plantation and furniture-making industries.