KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Subsidised petrol makes private vehicles more attractive than public transport, but policy changes like revoking the aid must consider living costs and broader economic implications, said state executive councillor for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han.
He noted that private cars are often used by low-income groups, especially those in areas without good public transport services.
He said it requires a balanced approach, as efforts to reduce private vehicle use must also account for the daily transport needs and livelihoods of ordinary Malaysians.
“It is not a zero-sum game where we can abolish (one thing) and do (another), then achieve what we think is good,” he said during a townhall at Selangor Mobility Symposium, held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
On a separate issue, Ng said Selangor’s sprawling townships make first- and last-mile connectivity a challenge, and highlighted the need for better pedestrian infrastructure and alternative options to encourage greater public transport use.
He said Selangor faces different mobility challenges from cities such as Singapore and Taipei, where urban development patterns are more conducive to public transport connectivity.
“First- and last-mile connectivity is not something new to many of us, but that is also the biggest challenge that we are having with our township development pattern.”
Ng said walking and micromobility are among options that can help commuters reach public transport services, although solutions have to be considered for Malaysia’s local conditions like its climate.
He added that improvements to pedestrian paths is one of the cheapest and fastest ways to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity, while noting that the state has started conducting walking audits to identify areas with issues.
“There are so many different modes of transport that can be considered as the first mile of connectivity, but again, we need to look at the local context, for example, the cultures and the climate that we have in Malaysia, especially for walkways.”
Responding to a question on how the state plans to coordinate repairs to pedestrian paths across different municipalities, including between Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Ng agreed connectivity issues must be addressed collectively.
