The Finance Ministry has allocated RM1.9 billion to Prasarana Malaysia Bhd for the acquisition of 1,660 new diesel and electric buses over a three-year period. Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, stated that 310 of these buses will be diesel-powered and it will be the last batch employing such engines, with the remainder being electric vehicles (EV). “The 310 diesel-engined buses will be delivered from June this year, and the delivery of 250 EV buses will start by the end of this year,” he said during a press conference at the launch of Prasarana’s RapidKL On-Demand open payment system.
RapidKL On-Demand is Prasarana’s van feeder service, previously known as the Demand Response Team. It now operates 110 vans across 37 zones within the Klang Valley and Penang. According to Amir Hamzah, an additional RM55 million has been allocated by the government for purchasing 320 more vans, which are expected to operate in 101 zones by June this year.
“This is a part and parcel of the government’s commitment to strengthen public transport infrastructure. We want to make life better for the people,” said Amir Hamzah. He further explained that one of the main issues with public transport is the first- and last-mile journeys. By expanding RapidKL On-Demand, the number of passenger pickup points increases, thereby improving accessibility to public transport.
On the development of the RON95 subsidy rationalisation plan, Amir Hamzah indicated that a new subsidy mechanism, affecting 85 per cent of the population, will be implemented using the MyKad system. He noted that this would follow the same mechanism as the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), benefitting approximately 5.4 million people, with further details to be disclosed in the latter half of the year.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Prasarana president and group chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah were also present at the event.
