KK public transport top priority – Phoong
KOTA KINABALU: DAP Luyang state assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said the most important task for the new government after the election is to be proactive, pushing for a modern and advanced public transport system development, making Kota Kinabalu become a liveable city.
He was welcomed and given a briefing by Kalvin Liaw, director of DBKK Traffic and Transport Department at DBKK office yesterday.
“Although DBKK officials have already prepared a series of public transport construction plans in the past few years, it is regrettable that the former federal government had not provided funding and taken it seriously,” he said.
“Lack of long-term and farsighted planning has led Kota Kinabalu public bus system lagging behind for 20 years. Gradually, the public transport system was abandoned by the public, causing
Kota Kinabalu citizens to rely excessively on private transport. As a result, Kota Kinabalu has become increasingly crowded and congested.
“Pakatan Harapan government must change the existing model, emphasize on public transport development and promote urban planning so that Kota Kinabalu can become a liveable city that belongs to everyone.”
In addition, he promised to work closely with the relevant units, ensuring the delayed projects by the former government can be implemented sooner.
“In particular, the Bus Rapid System (BRT), which has been mentioned for years, should be completed in no time,” he stressed.
“We should start working on the BRT construction sooner. If conditions allow, BRTs will be laid on several routes. This is the key to transform Kota Kinabalu,” he added.
He also mentioned that some of the long-delayed plans under the Kota Kinabalu Public Transport Blueprint, such as the southern bus terminal in Kepayan, and the one-way city travel plan, should be given priority and constructed sooner.
He promised to do his best to promote and implement plans around Kota Kinabalu city, letting Kota Kinabalu have significant changes within a few years.