Free bus rides in three states

 

Making her day: OKU Hamidah Syukur, 58, is thrilled after getting a free myBASKonsesi card during its launch at the Terminal One bus station in Seremban. — Bernama

OKU, students and seniors in Negri, Perak and Johor to benefit from myBAS

SEREMBAN: Individuals with special needs, students and senior citizens in three states can now travel for free on the myBAS stage bus service, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said special needs individuals registered with the Welfare Department, students aged between seven and 17, and those aged above 60 can now apply for the myBASKonsesi card which will allow them to travel for free on 58 routes in Negri Sembilan, Perak and Johor. The move is also to encourage more people to use the public transport service.

“This is another initiative by the ministry under the Stage Bus Service Transformation programme to help reduce the people’s cost of living.

Those eligible will only have to bring their MyKad, MyKid or MyTentera identification document or the OKU card issued by the Welfare Department when applying from today (yesterday),” he told reporters after launching the card at the Terminal One bus station here yesterday.

Those who wish to apply for the pass in Negri Sembilan can do so at the Terminal One Station here, Nilai Sentral and the bus stations in Bahau, Tampin and Port Dickson.In Ipoh, they can go to the Medan Kidd Station while in Johor, it is available at the KSL City Mall, TF Value Mart in Nusa Bestari, Senai International Airport, Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex, and the Gelang Patah and Kulai bus terminals.

Children below the age of six need not apply as they can travel for free. Loke said those successful will have to renew their card annually and no fee will be charged.

“We will expand these free rides initiative for the targeted groups in other states in stages,” he said, adding that the service is also available in Perlis and Terengganu.

Loke said all those eligible can apply and there is no limit set to this, because based on statistics in the three states, the number of people from these groups currently using the service is not high. Asked whether the government will incur additional cost for this initiative, Loke said it will not.

“We are already paying a fixed cost to the operators based on their service and routes covered irrespective of the number of passengers they carry,” he said.

Loke said his ministry is also looking at the Seremban-Kuala Lumpur-Seremban express bus service following complaints from commuters.

“We have issued permits to seven operators to service the route but now we have only two and sometimes just one company operating in a day.

“I have discussed this with the Land Public Transport Agency and we are prepared to give out more permits to ensure those travelling between the two points daily are not affected,” he said. - Star