PM slammed service provider for poor services after taking rides on the commuter and LRT

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took rides on the commuter and LRT rail services from Serdang to the city centre Thursday to get a feel of the transportation problems faced by the people and came away less than satisfied.

Throughout the one-hour journey, during which he switched trains, the prime minister noted the congestion, especially during the peak hours, and spoke to his fellow passengers to get their feedback.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi taking a ride on the KTM Komuter from the Serdang station to the City yesterday to gauge the effectiveness of the train services in the City. The Prime Minister came away less than satisfied.- Bernama

Speaking to Bernama after disembarking at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, he said he was not satisfied with the rail services and wanted immediate improvements to be made.

He said the existing services were not systematic, there were not enough coaches and coverage was not comprehensive, leaving many areas not serviced.

“I just saw the plight of people using the trains to get to work every morning. They were jostling to get on board every time a train arrived. There appeared to be no system.

“I’m not happy with this because the people are not getting satisfaction from riding the trains. This, we must fix,” he said.

“I found the trains really packed with so many passengers. Some had waited for three trains and yet could not board. “There’s no queue. People push their way in, women with children and old people are pushed aside,” he added.

Abdullah arrived at the Serdang Komuter KTM station at 8.15am but could not get on board the first train that arrived because it was packed.

He got on the next train, which arrived 15 minutes later, and headed for KL Sentral, the modern transportation hub for the various rail services.

There he also had to wait a while to switch to the Putra LRT service to get to the Masjid Jamek station because again, the first train to arrive was full.

On both the trains that he took, the prime minister had to stand although the passengers offered him their seats.

Upon arrival at the Masjid Jamek station at 9.15am, he chatted with members of the the public and bought several types of local cakes from the sellers there before leaving.

“There were many more suggestions given me by the passengers for my attention. I will strive for improvements, I will propose changes,” he said. – Bernama