Malacca governor suggests state govt diversify public transport

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Mohd Ali Rustam today suggested that the state government diversify its public transport system to improve the quality of services offered.

This includes upgrading facilities for senior citizens, pregnant women, and children, he said.

“As a tourism state, Malacca continues to be the focus of visitors with the country’s transition to the endemic phase and through my observation, most tourists tend to use their own vehicles to visit the places of attraction.

“Therefore, the state government needs to get the public's interest in making public transport the preferred mode of transport by improving the quality of the services offered,” he said today.

Ali said this in a speech at an investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 73rd birthday celebration at Seri Negeri in Malacca.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was awarded the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka, which carries the title “Datuk Seri Utama”.

There were a total of 347 recipients of state awards and honours.

Ali said the number of public transport routes, as well as frequency, should be increased to make the service more relevant to the public.

He said Panorama Melaka, the main public transport operator in the state, should increase its number of buses and look for opportunities to facilitate access to services using integrated technology.

Micro-mobility vehicles should be made one of the modes of transport in the state in line with the latest technological changes, he said.

He also called on local authorities to facilitate the use of the technology.

Ali, who is a former Malacca chief minister, also hoped the state government will expedite the implementation of 5G involving 133 locations to bridge the digital divide in the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali, in his congratulatory and loyalty speech at the ceremony, said under the First Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan, Malacca received an allocation of RM359 million for the implementation of 169 projects.

- Bernama