P Pinang mula operasi bas elektrik

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd commenced its electric bus service today in George Town, starting with Rapid Penang. Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook inspected the electric bus in Depoh Rapid Penang. Under Phase 1, 250 electric buses will be procured, with 175 allocated to Rapid KL and 75 to Rapid Penang. Of this number, 150 will be introduced in Phase 1, while the remaining 100 will follow in Phase 2.

By October 13, Rapid Bus has already received 52 electric buses, with 37 allocated to Rapid KL and 15 to Rapid Penang. All 250 buses are expected to be received by next March. The minister called this a new era for public transport in Penang, characterized by more environmentally friendly and quieter buses. However, he warned that quieter buses powered by electricity might not be as noticeable to pedestrians and other road users, especially in busy areas, and urged local authorities to consider this in traffic management and pedestrian pathway planning.

This move is part of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd's plan to acquire 1,600 electric buses from now until 2031 to replace diesel vehicles. Rapid Bus will utilize two types of electric buses, measuring 12m and 8.25m, to accommodate different passenger capacities and traffic conditions. The minister emphasized that the government cannot prohibit foreign nationals from using public buses, as such a ban would be impossible to enforce.

He stated that any disruptive or unruly behavior by passengers should be addressed by Rapid Bus staff, who can detain offenders and take other necessary actions. The minister also stressed that police officers are stationed at all MRT and LRT stations across the state and urged passengers to report any misconduct to the police. He also addressed comments from some social media users who called for a ban on foreign nationals using Rapid KL's services or taking action against those who misbehave.