As a frequent KTM user, my disappointment grew bigger by day for their incompetency in providing a reliable public transportation service. Here’s an excerpt to my recent ‘open letter’ to The Star and New Straits Times which went unpublished for the public to view.
“I wish to address the incompetency of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) for unabling to provide a reliable and punctual public transport services in accordance to ever increasing daily demands of its need. I disagree that the management is doing its best in overcoming recurrence of problems as the frequency of them happening had never shown any drastic decline.
I’m utterly upset of the non-punctuality of KTMB, as sometimes, it happens for no apparent reasons. Instead of trying its best to adhere to scheduled timing, the system tends to ‘procrastinate’ and keep on delaying its service, disappointing thousands of users en route to their destinations especially for those whom rely heavily on public transportation to move from one place to another.
I cannot fathom the fact of the trains being stranded due to technical problems as KTMB has more than enough time on daily basis; within midnight to 6 am for any sort of repairs, cleaning, as well as ensuring that none could be a factor of service’s disruption during its working hour. I’m pretty sure that KTMB has more than enough workforce in materializing the aspiration of its main priority; which is to provide a reliable alternative in reducing traffic congestion as well as minimizing traveling hours.
Recent additions of stations along Sentul and Rawang line didn’t help the cause of it being efficient. In fact, I believe more delays are expected in coming time in addition to inadequate number of new coaches for an expanded public service. I travel back and forth from Rawang to Kuala Lumpur everyday on KTMB, and never at once that I experienced being on newly-bought coaches that KTMB boasts of such investments for the comfort of its users.
As implemented last year, the queuing lines somehow often fail to educate Malaysians on the need of disciplining themselves and not to rush while passengers are getting out from a train. Based from my experience, neither KTMB officers nor ‘Polis Bantuan’ are present in ensuring a smooth transition especially during peak hours at strategic places; most of the time. There was once when it all went perfectly at KL Sentral to my amazement, thanks to the presence of Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar with escorts all around for crowd control. I believe KTMB practices double-standard as well as only some individuals are prioritized; in this case, instead of being fair to all their paying passengers.
The message hereby is clear to KTMB; stop dwelling in the past glory and start projecting better services for the benefit of all. Time is precious, apologizes will never return our lost and wasted time due to poor management, technical support and not forgetting; punctuality. As public’s main ground transportation provider, there surely are investors out there who are willing to shoulder KTMB’s financial responsibility in providing the people a trustworthy service. KTMB is a major disappointment to most Malaysians, hopefully the management can live up to high expectations as we progress to be a modern country by 2020.”
