By JADE CHAN
LOW-INCOME wage earners and senior citizens living in Petaling Jaya can now opt to travel around the city using the PJ Community Bus.
“In view of the rising cost of fuel, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is providing this bus service, which will operate around the PJ Selatan and PJ Utara areas, for free.
“This initiative is to help the urban poor and we’re the first local council in Selangor to provide such a service,” PJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said when launching the two buses called Mesra Komuniti (Community Friendly) One and Two.
The bus service starts at 9am and ends at 5pm. Three trips are made daily from Mondays to Fridays to each area.
The PJ Selatan bus route covers destinations like the MBPJ Headquarters, the Jalan Sultan government offices, the PJ Police Headquarters, the PJ Community Library, the Jalan Othman Market, the Medan Maju Jaya Health Centre and the Taman Jaya LRT Station.
More information: Roslan (right) and Bukit Gasing assemblyman
Edward Lee (second from right) distributing leaflets to inform the
public about the new PJ Community Bus service.
The PJ Utara bus route will go to the MBPJ Headquarters, Jalan Sultan, Jaya 33, Tesco/Ikano, Dataran Sunway police station and the National Registration Department Kota Damansara branch office.
Each bus can accommodate 23 passengers and is equipped with air-conditioning and a television set.
“It cost us RM200,000 to buy one bus; the other was refurbished for RM50,000,” Roslan said.
“It will cost us RM120 to run and maintain one bus each day, which works out to about RM3,000 a month.
“We will place the bus stop signs either at existing bus stops or nearby buildings that are identified as bus stops.”
Roslan said the bus stops were identified during consultations with the community leaders in the targeted areas, who will spread the word about the service.
“We will distribute leaflets about the service to the target areas, and get their feedback.
“If there is a high demand, we will consider extending the bus service to weekends or increase the frequency.
“We also have a community van for the disabled that is available on an on-call basis.
“It can fit two disabled persons in wheelchairs at a time, who are lifted into the van via a hydraulic jack that cost RM10,000.”
Roslan had earlier launched the council’s 51st Merdeka Celebration programme, which features a month- long of activities organised by the various PJ Residents Assocations (RAs) and Rukun Tetangga (RT), in collaboration with the MBPJ.
He presented materials like Malaysian flags, banners and bunting to the RA and RT chairmen for them to display in their communities.
Roslan then flagged of a classic mini car convoy, which will have a 51 cars, travelling from PJ to Kuala Terengganu.
“The convoy will be presenting a gift on my behalf to the Kuala Terengganu City Council mayor as a sign of mutual understanding between the two local councils.”
He later presented prizes to the winners of the PJ Tourism Slogan and Photography Competition winners.
The 51st Merdeka Celebration programme is available on http://www.mbpj.gov.my/.
To request for the community van service, call 03-7956 3544 ext 374/ 351.
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