Transportation Issues

Public transportation for disabled people probably has a long way to go in Penang. Forget the low floor buses or the ramped kerbs, clearly now we have a diabolical situation. (See article below. ) The man on the street (minus the arthritis) is feeling so much pain of having to use a poor public transportation system in Penang, that it becomes a matter of survival to get from one place to another.

It is not often that we hear of people suing the government in Malaysia over the public transportation system, but when that happens, it is really a serious matter.

In fact, I am waiting for someone to do so, to see how this will turn out to be.

New Straits Times CVLB may face legal action for the poor public transport system in Penang By Audrey Dermawan 27 November, 2006

Legal action maybe taken against the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board for failing to provide an efficient public transportation system in the State.

The Citizens for Public Transport (Cepat) is contemplating such a move. Its coordinator, Dr Choong Sim Poey, said today they will consult their legal advisors before initiating any action. Dr Choong said the thousands of commuters who are dependent on the daily bus services have had enough of the empty promises made by CVLB over the past eight months.

"It is not fair for the commuters to end up suffering as a result of the board's incompetency in handling the matter. "In fact, Cepat had on numerous occasions arranged for a meeting with CVLB chairman Markiman Kobiran to address the issue but to no avail. "If he or CVLB officials continue to shun us, then it is best we see one another in court," he told a Press conference today.

Cepat, a non-governmental coalition comprising 24 civil society groups in Penang, has been in the forefront in championing for better bus services since the revamped of the public transportation system on April 1. Under the Specific Relief Act, citizens have the right to sue a statutary body, in this case CVLB, if it fails to perform the duty entrusted to it.

CVLB is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating public transport. Dr Choong said Cepat had wanted to file legal action against CVLB much earlier but had to put the plan on hold following repeated appeals by the State Government. "It seems to me that the state authority is not of any help at all... the bus services have gotten from bad to worse. And the people are really unhappy," he said, adding Cepat would give CVLB until Dec 15 to meet and "talk things out" or be prepared to face the consequences. The State Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and CVLB northern region chairman Shah Headan Ayoob Shah could not be reached for comment.

(Penang Watch Link)