A prominent Malaysian politician said some years ago that this country has first rate infrastructure but third rate mentality, or something to that effect. My experience this afternoon reminded me of that observation.
Pak Itam and I took the 12 noon commuter from Seremban to Subang Jaya with the intention of going to a golf sale in Kelana Jaya.
As usual the commuter train's coaches were half-filled at Seremban, but at each of the 13 stops to KL Central more commuters came in, and we were standing room only by the time we left the last stop before KL Central.
On the return journey at 6 pm the situation was twice as bad. In fact in all my years of using this KTM commuter service, this was the first time that I saw many passangers standing all the way to Seremban.
Many Ministers and the last Prime Minister have seen the situation for themselves, and the usual public promises were duly reported in the mainstream media. The real public complains have always been there, but who listen to these anyway.
The solution seems so simple - add more coaches and increase the frequency of the trips.
At the Subang Jaya station Pak Itam and I tried all the 6 or 7 available taxis to get us to Kelana Jaya but all refused, and not in a friendly way at that. Just as we were to leave and try out on the road, an Indian taxi driver finally relented and asked for 15 ringgit, which he said was normal and who were we to be choosy anyway.
Why give this sort of people taxi licences in the first place ?
It's a wonder that the condemnation on Malaysian public transport is not any louder and more harsh. It must be the fatalistic Eastern resignation to fate that allows people in this country to endure the shortcomings we see everywhere. But I think it's a scandal that Malaysian authorities often boast of our world-class facilities, and negate everything with poor operations. It's clear that beautiful plans have been turned to grand constructions of all sorts, but the satisfactory functioning of operations is still not within grasp. I should be mad, but I am just sad.
Until the trains run on time, forget about "vision 2020".
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1 comment:
Salam Pak Zainal,
I will have to agree with you on the failings of the komuter services....
The irony, if i may add & u rightly observed, is that the demand is there.
But I guess KTM is busy on doing something else n not bothering to care for the actual service that is paying their salaries.
I always envy what they have on the other side of the causeway...
But until then lets continue to resign to our fatalistic fate....
Or do we need to march to Istana Negara just to get things done....
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