Datuk Christina Liew
KOTA KINABALU: Past Chairman of Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), Sabah, Datuk Ar. Ho Jia Lit has expressed support for Api Api Assemblywoman Datuk Christina Liew’s call to the State Government to re-visit the proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) system for Kota Kinabalu, which was announced by the Government in 2015 for implementation in 2016.
Liew had made the call when debating on the 2022 State Budget at the 16th State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday.
Ar. Ho concurred with the Api Api Assemblywoman that the BRT system is deemed to be a more sustainable public transport system for Kota Kinabalu as it shall complement the other multi-mode transport choices to ease accessibility, and target to reduce car-dependency at commuter peak-hours.
“We need the right people to do the right job for tangible results as rightly pointed out by (Datuk) Liew who suggested ‘headhunting’ from the pool of existing and retired civil servants as well as private individuals in Sabah (who are talented and innovative people) to be the ‘force’ of public transport transformation,” Ar. Ho said.
From her observation, we have local-born talents who are passionate about promoting Sustainable Development with focus on urban transport.
“To ‘borrow’ some of the key words from these talents, one way forward is to review the current bus business model from IOIO, that is, Individual Owned, Individual Operated to perhaps GOCO, that is, Government-Owned, Contract Operated, whereby existing bus owners-operators are to be consolidated as shareholders of companies according to the routes they have been operating, and given the chance to serve by operating the Government-Owned bus business along the respective routes where they (bus owners-operators) will be paid a fee,” Liew had said in her debate speech.
For this to happen, she believes that all it takes is for the State leadership to set the right path (or to give the direction) for the right execution to take place.
At this juncture, the Api Api Assemblywoman had suggested that the Government establish an urban transport-related government-linked company (GLC) or agency or investment arm under Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to champion a new business model for the public transport system in the State capital. It will be bus-based to start with.
Datuk Ar. Ho Jia Lit
“It will be bus-based to start with. The GLC or agency or investment arm is to commit itself to invest in public transport business with financial sourcing beyond the fare box through alternative revenue sources,” Liew had said, adding that the profits of such investment shall be sustainability for the People, Planet and Prosperity of a city like Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, Ar. Ho hoped Sabah would learn from Singapore’s experience that it was much cheaper to build a BRT system than to develop a skytrain service.
SImilarly, it is more economical to maintain a BRT system than a skytrain service, according to the architect who had previously attended a forum briefing in Singapore by the Singapore Land Transport Authority.
He said the briefing was on the much-needed cost-saving measure via maintenance and running top-class modern air conditioned buses for convenience.
“The briefing highlighted the point that it is also greatly cost-saving through building required new bus-stops at certain locations when needed, instead of those very expensive and inconvenient stations (that still need vehicles for drop-off and pick-up services to go home).
“Even if a bus breaks down, it is so convenient to just park it at the roadside and another bus can just come along to continue the bus transportation services, compared with the inconvenience of a broken down skytrain along the journey to one’s destination. Imagine a situation where a skytrain gets stuck above on elevated rail support causing a massive jam,” Ar. Ho pointed out.
The past Chairman of PAM Sabah also shared that it was a shocking revelation by one of the forum speakers that Singapore was horrified over its substantial losses after decades of operating its skytrain service in the island republic versus the BRT system. “We could not believe our ears but that is a fact,” he added.
In her speech, Liew had explained that the BRT system with its own dedicated bus lane (or busway) for the most part of the routes concerned, is still a bus-based public transport system.
“Its aim is to transform the conventional bus system along key routes with a view to serving the people better through quality bus features, facilities and services.
“We won’t do away with the basic buses because these are still needed as part of complementing multi-modes transport in Kota Kinabalu City, in areas where BRT lines are not available,” she had said.
The Api Api Assemblywoman had reiterated the need for quality public transport (it will be bus focus to kick-start) with the elements of “attractiveness” such as bus tracking Apps to facilitate passengers when to be at the well-designed bus-stop for minimum waiting time, a bus fleet with trending good look and facilities for all, a bus lane (or busway) for reliable bus journey time, and an integrated e-fare system for bus transfer with ease and affordability, among other features.
According to Liew, a quality bus system can attract potential new bus patronage with “Carrot” or “Attraction” incentives to enable travellers to shift from private car-driven trips during school and commuter peak-hours. This approach, Liew said, aims to reduce the number of vehicles converging on the city road networks towards easing traffic congestion under the concept of Sustainable Development for Public Transport.
In response, Ar. Ho said the practice of offering “carrots” to bus commuters was exactly what the Singapore public transport authorities were doing “by coming up with ‘luxurious’ buses as part of a quality bus system to woo city folks to use buses as their choice of transport”.
