RapidPenang

[nazrey]

Revival of free bus rides
Thursday October 16, 2008
TheStar

RAPID Penang is ready to provide free shuttle bus service by dropping its RM1 fare for rides in inner city George Town by year end, its chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said.

He said the final details were being ironed out with the Penang Municipal Council, which is funding the service, and the plan was expected to be approved by year end.

“We started discussions with the council in June and we’ll have three or four shuttle buses covering the T10 route currently serviced by Rapid Penang.

“The shuttle buses will be stationed at the main terminal in Weld Quay and will cover a distance of about 13.5km,” he told reporters after attending a public transportation seminar on Tuesday.

Before this, the council had funded a free shuttle bus service in the inner city operated by Milan in 2001 until the firm’s unsatisfactory performance led to the service being taken over by Rapid Penang in July last year.




Australian tram engineer Ric Francis speaking on the topic
"Proposed Tram Service for Penang' at the seminar.


Since then, Rapid Penang has been charging RM1 for round a trip from Weld Quay to Komtar.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow who also attended the seminar suggested that Rapid Penang took over the other bus companies in the state.

However, Azhar quipped that it would be like “asking Cuba to join the United States.”

Azhar said the other bus firms were operating using a different system - pajak (lease) - and it was not easy to take over them.

“We’re not sure whether they are compatible with our system and we’ll have to explore further on the matter,” he said.

Other than Rapid Penang, there are currently three other bus operators in Penang ” Milan, Transit Link and KGN-Hin Bus.

[rizalhakim]

Mum of three takes the bus down Penang’s streets every day at work
By LOOI SUE-CHERN


GEORGE TOWN: Driving a bus along Penang Island’s narrow, winding streets may seem like a daunting task but for mother of three Asiah Yaacob, it is all part of her daily job.

Asiah is Rapid Penang’s first female bus captain and despite being on the job these last four months, has never failed to surprise commuters.

“Most Penangites are not accustomed to seeing women bus drivers. Many still look at me and ask if I am sure I can drive. I always smile and tell them to ride with me to find out themselves,” she said.

Asiah, 41, drives the U307 route that covers the ferry terminal at Weld Quay to Batu Maung in a 12m bus that can accommodate 60 passengers.


Captain capable: Asiah, Rapid Penang’s first female bus captain, waiting for passengers at the Weld Quay ferry terminal which is part of her daily route.

The numerous daily trips add up to a lengthy distance but it is no big deal for Asiah who used to cover hundreds of kilometres from Kangar to Shah Alam when she was an express bus driver.

“I drove express buses for seven years for several different bus companies before I joined Rapid Penang this year.

“People think driving express buses is dangerous. I don’t disagree but I was always very excited to get behind the wheel, even when I had to drive all the way south to Johor,” Asiah said during an interview at Rapid Penang’s Weld Quay terminal.

Asiah was first inspired to be a bus driver about a decade ago. The former factory worker and her colleagues were on a company trip when she discovered that the express bus they were on was driven by a woman.

“I was surprised and impressed. A factory bus driver in my company encouraged me to obtain a bus driving licence.

“After toying with the idea, I finally went for the tests and got the licence about a year later,” she said, adding that she eventually gave up her “express” driving career for something less demanding.

“My family was worried about my long working hours and outstation schedule that took me away from home most of the time. I could only go home twice a month.

“They encouraged me to get a job closer to home. Now at Rapid Penang, I can go home every day to my three kids, who are 17, 15 and 11 years old,” said Asiah who stays on the mainland.

Asiah plans to remain a bus driver for as long as she can and even looks forward to having women colleagues at Rapid Penang.

“I think women are capable of doing jobs dominated by men. So, ladies, come join me at Rapid Penang if you have bus driving licences.”

[rizalhakim]

Asiah wanita pertama pandu bas RapidPenang


Asiah Yaacob memberi tiket kepada salah seorang penumpang RapidPenang di Pulau Pinang, semalam.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



PULAU PINANG 21 Okt. - Hendak seribu daya, tidak hendak seribu dalih. Perumpamaan ini amat sesuai ditujukan kepada Asiah Yaacob, 41, yang mencari rezeki sebagai pemandu bas awam bagi menampung perbelanjaan keluarganya.

Walaupun kerjaya itu dilihat didominasi golongan lelaki, namun baginya itu tidak boleh dijadikan alasan untuk 'mematahkan' minatnya untuk berkecimpung dalam bidang tersebut.

Setelah empat bulan bergelar sebagai pemandu bas untuk RapidPenang Sdn. Bhd. (RapidPenang), dia kini kelihatan lebih ceria dan bersemangat tinggi kerana beliau merupakan pemandu wanita pertama bagi syarikat tersebut.

Menceritakan kembali pengalamannya, dia berkata, minatnya timbul kira-kira 13 tahun dahulu sewaktu menyertai rombongan ke Bangkok, Thailand menggunakan bas persiaran.

Semasa dalam perjalanan ketika itu katanya, dia kagum melihat pemandu bas tersebut merupakan seorang wanita lalu menyimpan hasrat untuk menjadi sepertinya.

"Saya betul-betul kagum tengok dia bawa bas dengan mudah dan tenang. Terus terdetik nak jadi macam dia.

"Selepas pulang bekerja semula di kilang, saya ada tanya pendapat rakan-rakan dan mereka memberikan sokongan yang sepenuhnya kepada saya untuk mencapai cita-cita itu," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Seterusnya, Asiah berkata, dia pergi mengambil ujian untuk mendapatkan lesen bas dan akhirnya lulus.

Katanya, sebelum bergelar 'wanita pertama' RapidPenang, dia sebenarnya sudah bekerja sebagai pemandu untuk syarikat bas ekspres.

"Sebenarnya sebelum kerja dengan RapidPenang, saya dah bawa bas ekspres kira-kira tujuh tahun.

"Selalunya saya bawa bas dari Shah Alam ke Alor Star dan Pulau Pinang. Daripada situ, saya mula tambah pengalaman dan ilmu. Maklumlah, saya bukan sahaja kena bawa bas tetapi kena juga pandai 'belek-belek' bas," jelasnya yang mempunyai tiga orang anak itu.

Menurutnya, dia kini memandu bas RapidPenang bernombor 307 ulang- alik dari jeti Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda ke Batu Maung di sini.

Dalam pada itu, dia turut akui berasa janggal dan segan bekerja sebagai pemandu bas pada mulanya namun perasaan itu terhakis dengan sendirinya apabila sudah dapat menyesuaikan diri.

Ujarnya, sokongan suami, Shahidan Man, 51, serta rakan sekerja menjadikannya terus bersemangat dan memberikan perkhidmatan sebaiknya kepada syarikat dan penumpang-penumpang.

[nazrey]

More buses for Rapid Penang soon
Updated: Sunday October 26, 2008 MYT 7:32:20 PM
By YENG AI CHUN

KEPALA BATAS: The Government will speed up the purchase of 200 buses for Rapid Penang, thus allowing it to add more routes to its service.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcob said the purchase of additional buses is in response to the demands of the rural population who have requested for better public transport.

“With the additional buses, we hope to create more new routes which would not only benefit urban dwellers but also those staying in rural areas.

“The demand for more bus routes proves that public transportation is widely accepted and used by all,” he said to newsmen Sunday after meeting with Tasek Gelugor Umno division leaders.

The additional buses are expected to cover 14 new routes in the state including Seberang Prai.

Nor Mohamed said the Government is also looking into increasing the frequency of the bus service thus shortening the waiting time for buses.

Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd currently services 33 routes in 106 housing areas. Its daily passenger volume reaches up to 46,000 passengers.

[rizalhakim]

1.7m using RapidPenang
By : Audrey Dermawan



GEORGE TOWN: RapidPenang has proven to be a success story with some 1.7 million commuters using the bus service every month.

RapidPenang Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said the figure represented a 23 per cent increase on a monthly average.

He said this was despite the fact that the company was operating only 33 routes using 150 buses.

Since the company began operations on Aug 1 last year, some 17 million commuters had used the RapidPenang bus service.

"We are confident that the figure will increase significantly by the end of next year when we take delivery of another 200 new buses," he said at the company's Hari Raya and Deepavali open house here on Saturday.

Present was Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Azhar said with 350 buses next year, he expects the commuters to increase from 50,000 daily at present, to 120,000 daily.

There will be at least 14 new routes the new buses will ply.

"We will continue to take steps to improve our bus service."

Speaking to reporters before chairing the Tasek Gelugor Umno Youth and Puteri meeting in Kepala Batas on Sunday, Nor Mohamed said the Federal Government would look at ways to help the company to expedite the purchase of new buses.

"There has been huge demand for RapidPenang bus service, especially in the rural areas."

[rizalhakim]

Tambahan 200 bas RapidPenang dipercepat

KEPALA BATAS 27 Okt. - Kerajaan akan mempercepatkan pembelian tambahan 200 buah bas RapidPenang bagi menambah laluan baru serta meluaskan perkhidmatan tersebut di negeri ini terutamanya di kawasan luar bandar.

Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, melalui maklum balas yang diterima, banyak permintaan khususnya dari penduduk luar bandar yang mahu supaya perkhidmatan tersebut diperluaskan ke kawasan mereka.

''Dengan penambahan ini, kita harap lebih banyak laluan baru dapat diwujudkan dan memberi manfaat kepada bukan sahaja penduduk bandar tetapi juga di kampung-kampung.

''Ini membuktikan kemudahan pengangkutan awam semakin diterima oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan perjumpaan dengan para pemimpin UMNO Bahagian Tasek Gelugor di sini semalam.

Turut hadir Ketua UMNO Bahagian Tasek Gelugor yang baru, Shahbudin Yahya yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) kawasan Permatang Berangan.

Syarikat RapidPenang Sdn. Bhd. mula menyediakan perkhidmatan bas di Pulau Pinang sejak 1 April lalu membabitkan 150 buah bas di 33 laluan dengan jumlah penumpang mencecah 46,000 orang sehari.

Dengan penambahan 200 bas itu, syarikat tersebut dijangka dapat menambah 14 laluan baru termasuk di kawasan Seberang Perai.

Nor Mohamed berkata, kerajaan juga mahu tempoh menunggu bagi mendapatkan perkhidmatan bas juga dipendekkan pada kadar paling minimum bagi memastikan ia memberi manfaat kepada penumpang.

''Dengan cara ini, kita bukan sahaja dapat meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan tetapi dapat meningkatkan produktiviti pengguna khususnya dari aspek penjimatan masa dalam urusan seharian," tambahnya.

Sementara itu, beliau berharap semua ahli jawatankuasa UMNO Bahagian Tasek Gelugor yang baru selesai menjalani proses pemilihan supaya menumpukan usaha bagi memberi perkhidmatan kepada penduduk di kawasan masing-masing.

Katanya, antara yang perlu diberi tumpuan ialah menjayakan Pelan Tasek Gelugor Maju yang dilancarkan selepas Barisan Nasional (BN) memenangi pilihan raya umum di kawasan itu pada 8 Mac lalu.

''Kita sudah menyatakan janji kepada rakyat, jadi kita perlu sentiasa mendekati mereka dan bekerja kuat untuk mengotakan janji-janji itu," ujarnya.

[TWK90]

Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...905&sec=nation

Plan for more Rapid Penang buses on mainland hits snag
By WINNIE YEOH

GEORGE TOWN: Rapid Penang’s plan for additional buses for its service in Seberang Perai early next year has hit a snag.

The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) has rejected an application by the company to transfer 30 buses from RapidKL for use in the mainland.

CVLB chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran said the board had to reject the application because Seberang Perai currently had adequate bus services provided by Rapid Penang and other bus companies.

“If Rapid Penang brings in more buses, it will jeopardise the original intention of improving public transport, and create unhealthy competition among these bus companies,” he said via a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said Rapid Penang should focus on its services on the island before adding more buses on the mainland.


Bus city: The Rapid Penang bus depot at Sungai Nibong. The CVLB has rejected an application by the company to transfer 30 buses from RapidKL for use on the mainland.

A source from Rapid Penang said the transfer of the 30 buses from RapidKL was on a temporary basis until the arrival of the 200 European-made buses, of which 100 were scheduled to operate in Seberang Perai on 14 new routes.

“The new buses are scheduled to start operating in January. We wanted to bring in more buses and provide new routes because there was demand for them.

“We also have open permits to operate on the island as well as on the mainland,” the source said.

Datuk Markiman said the open permits were for certain routes only.

“For example, if one of the buses for Route One breaks down, they could transfer a bus from other routes to replace it,” he said.

The Rapid Penang source said the company would continue to appeal to the CVLB for it to reconsider.

Rapid Penang, a subsidiary of RapidKL, is 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance Inc. The company’s current fleet of 150 buses controls 60% of the bus services in Penang.

Bus from Europe? Interesting, as current Rapid Penang bus models i think, are from China...

[rizalhakim]

RapidPenang masih mengharap

Oleh Rodelio Junjun Taucan

PULAU PINANG 2 Nov. - Rapid Penang Sdn. Bhd. (RapidPenang) kesal dengan keputusan Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) kerana tidak memberi permit kepada syarikat itu untuk menambah bas dan laluan baru bagi operasi di Seberang Prai.

Difahamkan, LPKP memberi alasan bahawa mereka mahukan satu persaingan sihat antara syarikat bas yang beroperasi di negeri ini dan meminta agar RapidPenang menumpukan operasi di bahagian pulau sahaja.

Sumber memberitahu Utusan Malaysia, bagaimanapun alasan LPKP itu tidak boleh diterima terutama sekali apabila lembaga tersebut bertindak memberi permit operasi kepada syarikat lain yang baru dua bulan beroperasi di Seberang Perai.

"Baru-baru ini LPKP adakan mesyuarat dan mereka membuat keputusan untuk tidak memberi permit kepada tambahan 100 buah bas yang dirancang oleh RapidPenang bagi beroperasi di Seberang Perai.

"Sebaliknya, LPKP memberi permit kepada satu syarikat bas yang baru beroperasi di Seberang Perai kira-kira dua bulan lalu dan keputusan LPKP itu menimbulkan beberapa persoalan," kata sumber tersebut ketika di hubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Baru-baru ini, RapidPenang telah membuat keputusan untuk menambah kira-kira 200 buah bas bagi beroperasi di negeri ini pada tahun depan iaitu 100 daripadanya akan digunakan untuk 14 laluan baru yang dirancang di Seberang Perai.

Buat masa ini, terdapat 40 buah bas yang beroperasi di sembilan laluan di Seberang Perai manakala 110 buah bas untuk 23 laluan di bahagian pulau.

Sumber tersebut menambah, terdapat unsur politik yang mungkin mempengaruhi keputusan untuk tidak memberikan permit kepada RapidPenang itu namun beliau tidak mahu mengulas lebih lanjut mengenai perkara itu.

"Kami percaya unsur politik memainkan peranan dalam keputusan yang dibuat oleh LPKP ini kerana permit diberi kepada syarikat baru sedangkan RapidPenang telah berada di Seberang Perai sejak 31 Julai 2007," tegasnya.

Dalam pada itu, mengulas mengenai status operasi 40 buah bas di Seberang Perai sekarang, sumber tersebut berharap supaya perkara yang sama tidak akan berlaku.

"Kami cuma berharap agar LPKP akan meneliti semula keputusan mereka dan semoga operasi yang sedia ada ini tidak terganggu," ujarnya.

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

Asiah wanita pertama pandu bas RapidPenang


Asiah Yaacob memberi tiket kepada salah seorang penumpang RapidPenang di Pulau Pinang, semalam.
.

aha dats kewl

[rizalhakim]

Laluan baru: RapidPenang rayu LPKP

PULAU PINANG 3 Nov. - Rapid Penang Sdn. Bhd. (RapidPenang) akan membuat rayuan kepada Lembaga Perlesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) yang tidak meluluskan permit yang dipohon syarikat itu bagi menambah bas dan laluan baru bagi operasi di Seberang Perai.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Azhar Ahmad berkata, permit penambahan 30 buah bas RapidKL itu dibuat bagi memberi kemudahan kepada penduduk di kawasan berkenaan sebelum 200 buah bas yang dipohon RapidPenang sampai secara berperingkat mulai awal tahun depan.

Beliau yang kesal dengan tindakan LPKP berkata, pihaknya akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan Pengerusi LPKP, Datuk Markiman Kobiran selewat-lewatnya minggu depan bagi membincangkan perkara berkenaan dengan lebih lanjut serta menjelaskan secara terperinci hasrat mereka itu.

''Saya terkejut dengan keputusan LPKP itu. Bagaimanapun, saya akan berbincang dengan LPKP bagi mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut. Kami hanya mengetahui permohonan ini ditolak melalui media.

''Lagipun penambahan bas itu dibuat berdasarkan permintaan masyarakat di kawasan tersebut yang meminta bas RapidPenang masuk ke kawasan mereka. Permintaan ini dibuat melalui surat daripada ketua kampung, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) kawasan dan juga surat persendirian yang dihantar kepada kami. Bukannya untuk mengejar keuntungan," katanya pada sidang akhbar di pejabatnya di Lorong Kulit di sini hari ini.

Akhbar hari ini melaporkan LPKP tidak meluluskan permohonan sebanyak 30 permit bas tambahan syarikat itu yang dikatakan akan beroperasi di Seberang Perai.

LPKP memberi alasan mahukan satu persaingan sihat antara syarikat bas yang beroperasi di negeri ini dan meminta supaya RapidPenang menumpukan operasi di bahagian pulau saja.

Azhar berkata, 30 bas RapidKL tambahan itu dijangka mula menjalankan operasinya di kawasan Seberang Perai, Januari tahun depan.

Katanya, dengan pertambahan 30 bas sementara itu, tempoh menunggu pengguna dapat dikurangkan selain menambah laluan baru yang mendapat memenuhi permintaan pengguna.

Beliau berkata, pada masa ini, pihaknya memberi jaminan operasi di pulau tidak terganggu, malah pertambahan bas itu dijangka dapat meningkatkan lagi mutu dan kualiti perkhidmatan bas di negeri ini.

RapidPenang yang mula beroperasi di negeri ini pada Ogos tahun lalu, mencatat penumpang bulanan 1.7 juta orang membabitkan 33 laluan menggunakan 150 buah bas.

[khensthoth]

Is it just me or does anyone here thinks LPKP is intentionally rejecting the application by RapidPenang?

The issuing of such license and routes should come under the purview of the state government. Who else but the state itself knows what's best? In my opinion, LPKP is just a nuisance.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...0845&sec=north

Coupled with the news above, I somehow came up with the conspiracy theory of UMNO assemblymen trying to be hero by initially asking LPKP to reject the application, and on his appeal, approve it.

[nazrey]

Seems like Rapid Penang ticket looks better than Rapid KL systems
by nicholaschan
Depan

image hosted on flickr


Belakang

image hosted on flickr

[rizalhakim]

More public bus trips needed in Nibong Tebal
By DERRICK VINESH


NIBONG Tebal residents have asked Rapid Penang to provide more trips to the district to cater to the increasing number of passengers.

Sungai Acheh assemblyman Datuk Mahmud Zakaria said Rapid Penang was the only bus company providing services in the area as three private bus companies, which used to operate buses within the township, had stopped operations following dwindling collections.

“But the people are now asking for an adequate public bus service here. They are highly impressed with Rapid Penang’s fleet of new, clean and efficient buses,” he said after presenting monthly federal government welfare aid to 46 persons at the south Seberang Prai district welfare office here on Wednesday.

On Monday, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran said the board had rejected Rapid Penang’s application to transfer 30 buses from RapidKL for use on the mainland.


Chatting: Mahmud (right) talking to the recipients during the aid presentation at South Seberang Prai Welfare Department in Nibong Tebal.

Markiman said the decision was made because Seberang Prai had adequate bus services provided by Rapid Penang and other bus companies, noting that the additional 30 buses would create unhealthy competition and hamper efforts to improve the efficiency of public transportation.

Mahmud said presently, only Rapid Penang provided bus services between Butterworth and Nibong Tebal, adding that the other private bus companies stopped servicing the route when Rapid Penang began operations in the state last year.

“There are at least 1,200 residents in Sungai Chenaam, Sungai Udang and Sungai Acheh who are keen on taking public transport to get to destinations within the Nibong Tebal constituency,” he said.

Mahmud asked CVLB to reconsider its decision, noting that Rapid Penang should be given a chance to provide services to residents, even if the routes were less profitable.

He also called on the state government to expedite construction of a bus terminal in Nibong Tebal, noting that it was long overdue.

“Presently, the Rapid Penang buses are parked in front of Masjid Jamek Nibong Tebal to pick up passengers. But, this has caused traffic congestion in the area,” he said.

On the Seberang Prai Municipal Council’s decision to defer parking fee collection in Nibong Tebal to next year, Mahmud said it was a wise move.

“The people here are not so wealthy compared to those in other districts. It is not that we should not be charged for parking, but it could be done at a later time, especially when the economy is better,” he said.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by TWK90

Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...905&sec=nation



Bus from Europe? Interesting, as current Rapid Penang bus models i think, are from China...

Most of the new buses are Scania buses, and iirc, similar to the fleet running in Singapore.

Cheers, m

[chumpon]

Aku pernah naik bas ni tp awat tpt duduk belakang penumpangnya kena bersila ??

[rizalhakim]

yeke??
gaya kampung kot

[rizalhakim]

Just a phone call away
By LOOI SUE-CHERN


YOU are running late but the Rapid Penang bus has yet to turn up. Should you wait in case it is on its way or hop onto a taxi?

Many bus commuters in Penang are still unaware that they can now call up the bus company to find out how much longer they have to wait if the bus is delayed.

All 150 Rapid Penang on the island and mainland have been installed with global positioning system (GPS) gadgets to enable the company to keep track on its buses.

In Rapid Penang’s Intelligent Commuter Information System (ICIS) room at its Lorong Kulit headquarters in George Town, two operators monitor satellite images of Penang, which update automatically every 15 seconds, on two large screens.


Rapid Penang ICIS-GPS control room operator Ahmad Ruzaidi Mohd Zainol monitoring the buses' movement via the GPS tracking system.

Through the surveillance system, they can tell exactly where the buses are, and whether they are lying idle, following their own routes or if the drivers are speeding.

In the event of irregularities, for example when a bus stays stationary for too long due to breakdowns, traffic jams or other reasons, the system will trigger an alarm to alert the operators in the control room.


Yap: The operator will check the buses' locations and know how long they would take to reach the communters.
Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd creative communication assistant manager Yap Lee Ying said with the up-to-date information on the buses on the road, they were able to inform commuters on the buses’ estimated arrival time at bus stops.

“It is simple. Commuters just have to phone our headquarters at 04-2381313 and ask the control room operators.

“Because bus stops in Penang are not numbered, commuters have to tell the operators where they are, give some landmarks and inform which bus they want to board.

“The operator will check the buses’ locations on the screen and work out how long they would take to reach the commuters,” she said, as she introduced the system in the control room to the press on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, many commuters were still unaware of the system and that they could just call Rapid Penang to track down their buses to plan their journey better, said Yap.

“Since the system began running in August, only about 40 commuters call in daily to find out the arrival time of our buses.

“The response from commuters is still slow and many still prefer to email us questions about bus numbers and schedules.

“But we hope it will pick up soon because the ICIS is now stable and operating fine,” she added.

Yap also revealed that Rapid Penang would take the system to the second stage in the first quarter of 2009, ‘upgrading’ the phone calls to short message system (SMS).

“It is still in planning stages and we are in negotiation with telecommunication companies.

“Meanwhile, we also have plans to set up a traffic jam monitoring system so we can study traffic problems and direct our bus captains to alternative routes if possible,” she said.

In the meantime, Rapid Penang, she added, would also like to find a Chinese-speaking control room operator to attend to Chinese commuters so the existing operators would not have to scramble to find a translator when they get calls in Chinese.

[rizalhakim]

RapidPenang dahului pasang GPS pada bas

PULAU PINANG RapidPenang Sdn. Bhd. (RapidPenang) merupakan syarikat bas henti-henti yang pertama di negara ini memperlengkapkan 148 daripada 150 buah basnya dengan Sistem Kedudukan Global (GPS) bermula September lalu.

Penolong Pengurus Komunikasi Kreatif RapidPenang, Yap Lee Ying berkata, pemasangan tersebut memudahkan pihaknya memantau perjalanan bas dalam memastikan perkhidmatan lancar dan bersistematik.

''Selain itu, pengguna juga dapat mengetahui tempoh masa sesebuah bas tiba dan bertolak dari lokasi tertentu dengan pemasangan alat tersebut.

''Dengan penggunaan alat ini, kami dapat memastikan perkhidmatan bas mengikut jadual dan sampai di perhentian tepat pada masanya dalam melancarkan urusan perjalanan pengguna," katanya.

Beliau berkata sedemikian semasa mengadakan sesi taklimat kepada pemberita di bilik operasi GPS di Ibu Pejabat RapidPenang, di sini semalam.

Sementara itu, Lee Ying berkata, semenjak alat tersebut mula dipasang, semakin ramai pengguna menelefon mereka untuk mendapatkan maklumat terkini perjalanan bas.

''Selalunya, mereka akan menelefon bilik operasi kami di sini menanyakan kedudukan bas tersebut dan waktu akan tiba di perhentian," jelasnya.

Menurutnya, pengguna RapidPenang boleh menghubungi bilik operasi di talian 04-2381313 jika terdapat sebarang pertanyaan dan laporan mengenai perjalanan bas.

[rizalhakim]

RapidPenang diminta pertingkat operasi
Oleh Tuty Haryanti Ahmad Rodzi
bhnews@bharian.com.my

GEORGETOWN: Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) meminta Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd (RapidPenang) menyediakan pelan penambahbaikan operasi syarikat di negeri ini sebelum bercadang menambah laluan di Seberang Prai.

Pengerusi LPKP, Datuk Markiman Kobiran, berkata syarikat itu perlu menunjukkan terlebih dulu pelan yang boleh menyelesaikan sepenuhnya masalah pengangkutan awam di negeri ini.

Katanya, LPKP menolak permohonan untuk menambah permit kerana tidak mahu syarikat itu memonopoli sistem pengangkutan awam di Seberang Prai.

Tegasnya, jika RapidPenang yang sudah mempunyai 150 bas, menambah laluan di Seberang Prai, bermakna syarikat pengangkutan awam lain seakan-akan tidak beroperasi.

"Bukan kami tidak mahu beri permit kepada RapidPenang, tetapi ada lagi syarikat pengangkutan awam lain yang masih perlu beroperasi. Jika kita terus bagi peluang kepada mereka mengambil alih operasi, pasti syarikat lain akan 'mati'.

"Jika RapidPenang terus menambah laluan di Seberang Prai takkan kita nak syarikat itu juga yang terus beroperasi di seluruh Malaysia. Ini semua perlu diambil kira," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Beliau diminta mengulas hasil pertemuan Setiausaha LPKP, Datin Naimah Ramli dengan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif RapidPenang, Azhar Ahmad di Putrajaya, kelmarin.

Pertemuan itu diadakan berikutan keputusan LPKP menolak permohonan RapidPenang untuk menambah permit bas di Seberang Prai.

Baru-baru ini, RapidPenang bercadang untuk menambah sebanyak 200 bas di Pulau Pinang tahun depan, iaitu 100 daripadanya bakal digunakan di 14 laluan baru di Seberang Prai.

Buat masa ini, ada 110 bas beroperasi di 24 lalu pulau manakala 40 lagi di sembilan laluan di Seberang Prai.

Markiman berkata, jika operasi RapidPenang benar-benar kukuh, kenapa syarikat pengangkutan awam lain masih boleh terus beroperasi di Pulau Pinang.

"Ini membuktikan RapidPenang masih belum cekap lagi mengendalikan operasi mereka di seluruh Pulau Pinang.

"Seperti yang sedia maklum, kita masih menerima banyak aduan berkenaan operasi syarikat itu yang kurang memuaskan terutama di bahagian pulau," katanya.

[allurban]

Discover Penang & Win! & Student Pass Loyalty Campaign

1st LIVE DRAW!!
When: Sunday 16th November 2008 Where: New World Park (location map attached) What time: 5.30pm onwards

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Simply answer 3 simple questions, attach your Rapid Penang bus ticket and you might just win a stay at Paradise Sandy Beach Resort or Go Holiday with AirAsia!


Just be at New World Park on the 16th of November, 5.30pm onwards to witness the FIRST LIVE DRAW!

Visit rapidpg.com.my for more information.

Cheers, m