| The decades have rolled the traffic chaos and pathetic public transport into a monstrous gangrene that is eating away the Malaysians. And for this failure, the BN government must take the responsibility.
Yes the BN-led government has paraded loudly and relentlessly - its billboard claims “Satu Lagi Projek Oleh Barisan Nasional” for every mega-project that crowds the Malaysian landscape.
Our tourist brochures colorfully announce superstructures, high-speed ERL, spanking mega-size KLIA, and a host of ‘attractions’ that beacon foreigners to come spend their time and money here. Nothing wrong with that really.
But when all these trappings and attractions are built with the resources of this land and on borrowed funds, only to leave the ten million working rakyat – not to mention the tens of thousands of school going children and senior citizens - in a daily fix when it comes to commuting to and from home and work, then there is something seriously wrong with the decision makers.
Why are our ministers so helpless and hopeless when it comes to providing a very basic infrastructure especially transportation for its citizenry despite being in power for five decades with all the resources at their disposal virtually?
All kinds of promises have been made. All kinds of studies have been commissioned. All varieties of modes of public transport systems have been contracted out to cronies. Numerous roads have been built and or upgraded and getting the public to pay the toll.
Do our lording politicians know that we are suffocating with increasing intensity with each passing year from the following:
Every morning and every evening our roads are choking with bumper-to-bumper crawls. And the length of these crawls keeps increasing by kilometres. Today, on the average, motorists are crawling at least five to ten kilometers daily to and from home and work.
Cars and motorbikes keep increasing with each household having at least three to four vehicles. Not born out of luxury but plain necessity as there is no other sane way to get to work or school.
Car parks at KTM Komuter stations are already full even before sunrise. The same is true for the other rail services available. And lest we forget, do our ministers know what it costs to park in these lots these days?
The bee-line of commuters in every rail station is a sight to reckon. Sardine-packing is one problem; but what about the numerous times that the trains get delayed? Have anyone of the politicians tried standing for one hour after a hard days work in the office?
Forget about the stage buses. They are all stuck in the crawling traffic jams too.
Do our ministers actually know how much of national productivity time the people have been forced to waste on the roads? Do they in the first place actually know how big a hole is being burnt in the rakyat’s pocket burning rubber and fuel and paying for the parking and the increasing ticket prices?
Do our ministers actually understand how early households are leaving their homes to get to work daily these days?
Do they know that school children are out on the road as early as five in the morning?
Do our policy masters know that millions of rakyat are only able to get back home way past eight at night daily, when work actually finishes around five?
And what is the standard answers we are dished out with?
“We are conducting a new infrastructure traffic dispersion study that will take three more years to complete”.
Or, how about this: “There is no country in the world without traffic problems!”.
Please ministers, cut the crap, take ownership and face the fact. Even Bangkok, touted for its numerous expressways, flyovers, underpass and what not, is managing its traffic beautifully. Maybe our ministers should drive in and out of Bangkok, for a learning experience.
The public impression here in Malaysia is that the BN led government in order to keep an almost failed national car project alive by creating overdrive local consumption for its cars, has crippled the public transport system. Now, can we blame the rakyat for holding such an opinion?
What is all that development and super structures and mega projects all about if the citizens cannot enjoy their basic rights vis-à-vis cheap, affordable, convenient and time saving hassle free transport in their daily lives?
What is all that screaming about being “Malaysia Boleh” and becoming a seemingly “developed” nation all about when the citizens cannot even save on quality time and ensure even its disadvantaged citizens' needs are protected on equal terms?
The answers to these thoughts and questions will determine whether the BN led government has succeeded or failed to deliver on its primary roles and fundamental responsibilities to its citizenry. No? Then what? |
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