Flabbergasted!

Coming in the wake of the inevitable toll-charge increases next year, we find yet another increase on the horizon. Or the planned congestion charge for drivers entering Kuala Lumpur. Although this comes as a shock to many, I am not the least surprised, as the pass-through effect of petrol and toll increases would ultimately have to be borne by the consumers. But what flabbergasts me is that the proposed increase comes in the wake of inadequate and poorly-planned public transport system (at least here in KL, and far worse elsewhere).

A few years back, it was promised that the reduction in petrol subsidies were meant to be channeled into improving the public transport system - two years down the road, I still wonder where the improvement lies, and more importantly where all the money went. Maybe to the civil service pay-hike. The question still remains: will we ever experience the promised improvement in public transport? The LRT is still jam-packed during rush hour; taxis are still charging at their whims; public buses are still late and infrequent. And these people wonder why so many still drive their single-occupancy vehicles to work?

Some quarters in the ruling coalition do not like Malaysia to be compared to its southern neighbour (maybe because it's not a country, but I think it's more out of shame) - look at its public transport system and take a leaf out of its book. Their public transport companies actually make money! And how many bus companies alone in KL have gone bust over the years? Will so-called RapidKL go down the same path? It's about time our government humble ourselves and learn the proper way to plan and manage public transport, not for their sake (because the cronies can't make money here), but for the sake of Malaysians! Please...