TRANSIT has taken note that another Balik Kampung period has started in Malaysia.
While some people have taken to their cars or buses & trains immediately, others are waiting for the last minute (or waiting for the congestion to reduce).
With the aligning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the 54th Merdeka day, this Balik Kampung period is proving to be both interesting and exciting – but sadly it has so far been as deadly as usual.
You may be interested in reading the following articles:
- ‘Do not buy express bus tickets from touts’ (NST, 26 August 2011);
- Bus terminals in Klang Valley yet to experience heavy traffic (The Star, 27 August 2011);
- A rail Hari Raya trip for families heading to east coast (The Star, 27 August 2011);
- MB: More promotion for using public transport next year (The Star, 27 August 2011) – [TRANSIT: How about more promotion of public transport in general in Selangor state? Maybe some improvements to facilities in Klang, better community bus service, Bus Rapid Transit in Klang and Shah Alam, revival of bus services in communities that have lost them … etc. Oh, and wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an integrated transport terminal in Shah Alam. Maybe even a temporary one?];
- Poor demand for extra buses this festive season (The Malay Mail, 29 August 2011);
Also, please take note of the following important information:
- A list of legitimate bus companies is available at the SPAD website [TRANSIT: We don’t actually know where the list is, but if SPAD says it is there, then we will encourage the public to look];
- SPAD had approved permits for 2,198 additional buses to cater
for this year’s “balik kampung” rush compared with 1,563 last year; - SPAD is carrying out a crackdown on touts at Puduraya, Bandar Tasik
Selatan terminal, KL International Airport, Low Cost Carrier Terminal as well
other terminals outside Kuala Lumpur; - The public are encouraged to provide information or file complaints against
express bus services to SPAD via e-mail at aduan@spad.gov.my or hotline at
1-800-88-9600 - Touts face a maximum RM50,000 fine or five years jail or both under the Land Public Transport Act 2010, if found guilty;
TRANSIT Says:
As always, stay safe on our roads.
- Hentian Pekeliling – for Pahang-bound buses;
- Hentian Duta – Transnasional’s hub;
- Hentian Putra – for “East-Coast” bound buses;
- Hentian Puduraya / Pudu Sentral – no contact info since the terminal reopened on 16 April 2011);
- Terminal Bersepadu Selatan – for southbound buses;
Transit Malaysia 
5 replies on “Balik kampung o-o-o balik kampung!”
any news on the new trains from China?We were told it’d be here before September. I suspect the HSR accident may delay our trains delivery as China is issuing re-inspection on al; trains and ours may be affected..
@Forrestcat
Unfortunately we have no news about the HSR trains. We already expected that the “before September” was just a “feel good” story and we expected the trains to arrive by September (closer to the end of the month) and be in service by late December – although we have been told that they can be in service sooner.
As for the recent HSR crash in Wenzhou, China, we are significantly concerned about the message that this crash sends, both for the quality & safety of China’s railway signalling system, communications systems, and rail vehicle design.
Unfortunately, the reason that this manufacturer was chosen was the quick construction time that was promised – and we at TRANSIT have always been concerned when things are promised “too fast” (like LRT extensions and MRT lines).
The other issues about the lack of open tender and the lack of investment that has stuck KTMB in this situation (where the Chinese railway manufacturers are the only ones who can meet the tight timelines) are also of major concern to TRANSIT and have not been addressed.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
More “ulat tiket” at all the bus terminals in Kuala Lumpur.
Moaz
The train accident in China apparently was caused to poor signalling rather than train design.
We may look down on China’s trains but beggars can’t be choosers but looking at China’s impressive expansion of rail transport, i am confident that the new commuter trains could serve for a very long time.
The Chinese authority action to reinspect all new trains and the entire HSR line shows the Chinese takes quality seriously.
@Forrestcat
You are correct that the cause of the crash was the signalling issue. At the same time, the reinspection of the trains may be perceived either way – as a sign that Chinese railway companies and the government are taking this seriously and ready to learn from their errors, or as a sign that there are more underlying problems than just the signalling issue.
In other words, we still don’t know how much we don’t know – but it is fair to say that their railway industry will take time to recover.
Now, do note that we do not look down on anyone except those who do not perform or do their duty & uphold their responsibility. And on that note, you used the phrase “beggars can’t be choosers” … well, you should also be asking how KTMB came to such a ‘beggar’ state that they couldn’t ‘be choosers’ from the best meter gauge rolling stock that the international railway industry has to offer.
Right now, we are more worried about the state of the Malayan Railways, rather than the Chinese railway industry
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT