KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Selangor must shift towards a more integrated, people-centric mobility system, as gaps in first- and last-mile connectivity, pedestrian access, affordability, and transfers continue to affect commuters, said Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd (RMSB) chief executive officer Ramali Abu Bakar.
He said despite its extensive transport network, Selangor’s challenge is to ensure different services work together to provide safe, reliable, affordable and convenient journeys.
“Having transport services is one thing, but making the whole journey work is another.
“Ultimately, our mission is not just to move vehicles, but to connect people with opportunities and build a more connected region,” he said during his presentation at Selangor Mobility Symposium, held in conjunction with Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS), at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
Ramali spoke about Selangor’s mobility landscape, including gaps that need addressing and how various stakeholders may work together to connect people with opportunities.
RMSB is a wholly owned subsidiary under Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), or MBI, that leads the development and coordination of smart mobility systems, public transport initiatives and green technology in Selangor.
Ramali said Selangor has a substantial transport network comprising rail services, buses, demand-responsive transit (DRT) and major highways, but the effectiveness of the infrastructure depends on how well the different modes connect passengers to their destinations.
He cited incomplete footpaths, unclear travel information, missed connections and high combined fares as gaps that could make journeys difficult, even when individual transport services are operating as intended.
“Even if every individual service is functioning, the overall journey may still be frustrating, and this is a very important point for all of us. The passenger is not interested to see boundaries between government departments, local authorities, transport operators or service contracts.”
As such, he said improving public transport accessibility requires attention to the entire journey, including safe pedestrian routes to stations and bus stops, convenient transfers between services, reliable information, and manageable fares.
He added that high ridership alone does not guarantee convenient access for all commuters, stressing the need to identify missing footpaths, service gaps, difficult transfers and unreliable information.
On the Second Selangor Plan’s (RS-2) target of increasing public transport usage to 60 per cent by 2030, Ramali said this is achievable if transport planning addresses actual travel demand and accessibility gaps, while better coordination of existing services will make public transport a more practical and attractive option.
“If you want people to use public transport more frequently, we must look at the whole journey, identify where it breaks down and improve those points of friction.”
Ramali said a more inclusive mobility system is also necessary to ensure older people, persons with disabilities, students and lower-income households can access employment, education, healthcare and other opportunities.
He also said that proposed initiatives, including a Selangor Mobility Centre and cross-platform data integration, are under development and are subject to further planning and approvals.
“Our mission for 2030 should not simply be a bigger mobility system; it should be a mobility system that works better for more people,” Ramali said.
