Budget 2027: MITRANS Calls For A More Predictable Public Transport

By Abdul Hamid A Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Predictability in public transport should be a key focus of Budget 2027, with greater attention given to improving existing services rather than concentrating mainly on new major projects.

Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS) director Mohd Fathi Abu Yaziz said service frequency and whether they will arrive on time are crucial — they give certainty to commuters.

Upcoming allocations, therefore, could also make more immediate difference if directed towards maintenance, feeder services and bus fleet expansion, he said.

He said even an allocation of RM1 billion — insufficient for a new heavy rail project — could still improve commuters’ services significantly.

“A single megaproject can cost tens of billions of ringgit.

“But spending available funds on rail maintenance, more feeder buses, expanded demand-responsive transit services and better signalling can directly improve daily services,” he told Bernama.

 

Bridging First- and Last-mile Gaps

 

Mohd Fathi said one of the main weaknesses remained the journey between a commuter’s home or workplace and the nearest station.

“For high-capacity rail lines to work well, people must first be able to reach the station safely and conveniently.

“If there are poor walkways, unsafe road crossings, problems with lifts or escalators, or long waits for connecting services, the rail system will not be fully used,” he said.

He said Budget 2027 could consider dedicated first- and last-mile grants for local authorities to improve covered and well-lit walkways, barrier-free access and pedestrian links around stations.

He also called for a wider use of demand-responsive transit, a shared van or minibus service that operates based on passenger bookings or demand, particularly in areas where conventional feeder buses are less practical.

 

Outcome-based Funding and Quicker Gains

 

Mohd Fathi said efforts to reduce reliance on private vehicles, including measures such as fuel subsidy rationalisation, should be matched by improvements in public transport.

“People need a practical alternative.

“Discouraging car use without first providing reliable and frequent public transport can place additional pressure on commuters, especially those living outside central urban areas,” he said.

He said future public transport funding should also be linked more closely to measurable improvements. These could include punctuality, service frequency, vehicle availability, station conditions and passenger satisfaction.

For more immediate improvements, Mohd Fathi said dedicated and properly enforced bus lanes could help reduce travel times and improve reliability on congested urban roads.

“Bus lanes cost far less than building a new rail line, but they can still make buses faster and more reliable,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mohd Fathi said commuters should be able to see and feel clear improvements by the end of 2027.

He said this could include peak-hour train waiting times of about three to five minutes,  demand-responsive transit services arriving within five to 10 minutes of booking, easier payment across transport modes and safer, sheltered access to stations.

“What commuters want is predictability.

“They want to know that they can get to the station easily, that the bus or train will come as expected, and that they can reach their destination without unnecessary delays,” he said.

-- BERNAMA