Trams could be back in as early as 2017

Trams could be back in Penang as early as 2017

The return of trams in Penang could be a reality by 2017.

This is because the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is set to propose it under the Land Public Transport (PAD) Act 2010 during the Parliament sitting in October.

The amendment would augur well with the state government's plan to revive the tram service of the late 19th century until 1936.

Under Penang's Master Transportation Plan, the state administration applied to the federal government for licences to run the tram services last year, as an alternative to LRT or monorail, that is not in compliance with Unesco's requirement in preserving George Town's historical sites.

However, for the past couple of years the plans for tram services by historical cities Penang and Malacca, have been held up as the federal government needed to put the appropriate legislation in place first.

SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal told theSun there is no provision in the current law on the pedestrian-friendly tram service in the country.

"For trams to be in service, it requires amendment to the relevant laws since trams share the same space on the roads with other vehicles. On our part, we are proposing an amendment to the PAD Act to accommodate the request by the local councils," he said.

Nur Ismal said tram is a unique mode of transportation unlike LRT, monorail and other rail services.

"Unlike monorail, you can just walk in or get on the tram on the street level. It is low-floor, ideal and much easier to take the trams. It can transport many people for short distances such as in the central business district (CBD) or city centre," he said.

Stating that SPAD welcomes local council's effort to initiate tram services, he added: "It must also use technology that is proven to be safe, reliable and efficient."

In 2011, Malacca government had proposed to build 40km tramways that would run on eco-green tram with NGV engine, covering 11 out of 14 tourist spots, from Ayer Keroh toll plaza to the Heritage Town of Malacca and later, to be extended to Alor Gajah, Merlimau, Jasin, Durian Tunggal and Masjid Tanah.

It is learned that Kuala Terengganu City Council has also outlined tram service as part of its local plan to boost tourism.

Earlier this year, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor voiced out the intention to introduce trams in KL's CBD in responsed to theSun's exclusive report on SPAD's proposal to introduce 'tuk-tuk' or motorised tricycle in suburban areas by year-end.

~News courtesy of The Sun~

Life on the track

Life on the track



The new train travels at 160 kilometres per hour, and stops at Arau, Alor Setar and Bukit Mertajam, ending its journey at KL Sentral station.

Kedah, Malaysia's northernmost state, will soon be connected with Kuala Lumpur through a fast electric train service (ETS) that comes into service in September. The journey will take four hours 15 minutes, providing a comfortable choice for travelling from the Northern state to the capital. 

Travellers from Thailand can travel overland through Sadao Checkpoint before jumping into the ETS at Padang Besar. The new train travels at 160 kilometres per hour, and stops at Arau, Alor Setar and Bukit Mertajam, ending its journey at KL Sentral station.

~News courtesy of The Nation~

Selamat hari raya

New system for taxi at Penang Sentral

New system for taxi at Penang Sentral

Taxi drivers can conveniently use the facilities provided at the Penang Sentral temporary taxi terminal for the whole day with only a minimal charge of RM1 per day for multiple entries.

The new coupon system was introduced yesterday by Semasa Sentral (Penang) Sdn Bhd, which was appointed to manage the taxi operation effective from April 1.

Semasa Sentral head of facility management Richard Anthony said the coupon system was introduced for better efficiency.

"The coupons can be bought daily from the guard post at the taxi terminal entrance," he told reporters at a press conference here today.



Semasa Sentral (Penang) Sdn Bhd introduces new coupon system at Penang Sentral temporary taxi terminal where taxi can park for the whole day with only a minimal charge of RM1 per day for multiple entries.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Fares increased for taxi, train and express bus services

Fares increased for taxi, train and express bus services

Be prepared to pay more for your public transport. The increase in taxi fares takes immediate effect while train and express bus charges will be raised on May 1 and May 15 respectively.

Budget taxis in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru will charge 25 sen per 200m and 25 sen per 36 seconds although the flagfall will remain at RM3 for the first kilometre.

This is a sizable increase as each budget taxi will get RM1.25 per km (from RM0.87 per km, up by 44%) and 42.67 sen per minute (from 28 sen per minute, up by 49%).

For example, a budget taxi that is stuck in traffic for an hour will take in RM25 (RM30 for those in Penang) from time-based charges alone, up from RM16.80 previously. This is likely to make taxi drivers more willing to face congestions.

Express buses will charge 2.1 sen more (or 22.5%) per km, setting the new fare at 11.4 sen per km.



Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said taxi and express bus operators were facing rising costs, adding that the last fare review for both was in 2009.

“We took into account the needs of the operators and the public (in coming up with these new fares),” he told reporters at SPAD headquarters here.

Teksi 1Malaysia (TEKS1M) cabs – consisting exclusively of the brown Proton Exora – are the only taxis to have the flagfall rate raised from RM3 to RM4.

The hike in taxi fares does not cover airport limos and executive taxis (typically blue in colour), and is limited to Peninsular Malaysia.

According to SPAD, taxi fares would be reviewed each year based on operating cost changes.

Although the increase in fares took immediate effect, taxis could only charge the new rates after the meter had been recalibrated.

SPAD chief executive Mohd Nur Ismal Mohd Kamal said it would take one to two months for all taxis to use this new setting.

“There’s a panel of service providers they can go to. We have asked them to increase (operating) capacitym,” he said.

SPAD said that senior citizens, the disabled and children below 12 years old would continue to enjoy the 25% discount on express bus fares.

On train fares, Syed Hamid said SPAD had given its approval to KTM Bhd and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to set new rates covering LRT, KTM Komuter, KTM Intercity and KL Monorail.

According to SPAD, the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT Line fares have not been reviewed for the past 19 and 17 years respectively. Monorail, KTM Komuter and KTM Intercity fares have remained the same for 12, 12 and 25 years respectively.

Mohd Nur said the fares of stage buses would not be increased now or in the near future.

“This is because low-income earners rely on stage buses for transport, and they cannot afford to pay more,” he said.

He added that the Government would cover stage bus costs.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Hot weather to ease by March end

Hot weather to ease by March end: Met dept

The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.

“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.

Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.

Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.

The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.

Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.

Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.

“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.



Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Happy Chinese New Year 2015