Budget boost ‘no silver bullet’ for railway problems, says expert

Malaysian transport consultant Rahman Hussin warns that the government's RM3.4 billion railway modernisation budget is not a "silver bullet" for the sector's issues. The funds will cover Prasarana Malaysia's track overhaul and the acquisition of 42 new trains for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd. However, Hussin stresses that execution and preventative maintenance are crucial to achieving results.

He emphasizes that simply purchasing new trains and upgrading infrastructure does not guarantee improved reliability. Success hinges on how effectively these investments are implemented. KTMB requires adequate track capacity, signalling systems, and maintenance facilities to properly operate the new trains. The Klang Valley's double-track project demonstrates the importance of track infrastructure alongside fleet expansion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed Prasarana and KTMB to address service breakdowns immediately and continued the My50 travel pass for 300,000 Klang Valley users, as well as introducing MyKomuter50 for 40,000 KTM Komuter users, with potential monthly savings of up to RM160. While the passes can help lower household transportation costs and promote public transport usage, consistency in funding is necessary.

Ahmad Farhan Sadullah, a fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, views the investment in Prasarana and KTMB as overdue and forward-thinking. However, he urges Putrajaya to provide full technical clarity on how Prasarana plans to execute its asset recovery. Specific details about the rail service overhaul, procurement of upgrades, repairs, or overhauls for existing systems - particularly for the Kelana Jaya, Ampang, and Monorail lines - are needed.