Develop under-utilised railway assets, says Liow

PUTRAJAYA: Sixty per cent of railway assets nationwide are under-utilised.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the assets managed by the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) should be developed to transport cargoes.

“I see this as a good way to boost the income of RAC and prevent road accidents and congestion caused by lorries carrying cargoes,” he said after attending RAC’s silver jubilee celebration yesterday.

Liow added that RAC must encourage more operators to optimise railway capacity.

“We need to increase our usage from 40 per cent to 100 per cent, so that it can boost the economy.

“I have asked RAC to work with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and the Land Public Transport Commission to come up with a comprehensive strategy to maximise the usage of the unused capacity,” he added.

There is also a need to review the cost of transporting cargoes through railways, as it is deemed to be costlier than via lorries.

“We have to look at ways to reduce the cost of rail transport, especially when the cargoes arrive at the port, and also build depots closer to train stations to improve accessibility.

“We need to speed up the train services.

“All these will make the rail industry develop and contribute to the economy.

“This will also ensure advance railway connectivity and benefit the people.”

He said RAC had managed its assets well, earning RM26 million in profit last year, compared with RM19 million the previous year.

“They have also reduced KTMB’s debts from over RM1 billion to RM420 million,” he said.

On the appointment of Datuk Shaharuddin Khalid as the new director-general of the Road Transport Department (RTD), Liow said it was a normal process for the Public Service Commission to appoint or transfer officers.

“I welcome Shaharuddin to RTD. I hope with his enforcement background from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, RTD will be strengthened.”