Let's get it right this time

Public transport, too

Let's not forget the less spectacular cases. Back in 1997, the bus companies of Kuala Lumpur were forcibly merged so that "public transport could become more efficient". On paper it sounded great. Under one consortium, busier routes could cross-subsidise the less profitable ones thereby improving services. Moreover, since we are a Maju Jaya country, we need buses that look new and shiny.

However, the reality was painful. On the first few days of the takeover, thousands of commuters turned up one or two hours late for work because Intrakota wanted to "optimise" (read: minimise) the number of buses that it had to provide. To add insult to injury, the ticket price was increased from 60 sen to 90 sen.

Three years later, commuters still have to stand and wait for Intrakota buses longer compared to the old mini-buses. And on top of it, the crony-controlled company is still whining about making losses (just like Parkmay, another crony-controlled forced consolidation of bus companies). How is it that mini-buses could provide a faster, more frequent and cheaper service and still make profits? What the hell is wrong with Intrakota?

The answer is self-evident. There is a parasite somewhere in the system sucking out money. There was also a conflict of interest, because Diversified Resources Berhad, the company which owns Intrakota, also wanted to sell more Proton cars. And since selling cars is more profitable than selling bus tickets...well what more needs to be said?

Khau See Kit, Malaysiakini, May 2000
http://www.geocities.com/seachange_2000/Pearls/colonised.htm

Please don't screw it up another time.