I believe that very few people are aware that RapidKL has introduced the new 31-day Monthly Travel Card which is based on the Touch n Go system.

Touch n Go users and MyKad with Touch n Go option can purchase the 31-day pass at any time in the month and it is good for 31 consecutive days.This gives commuters a lot more flexibility in using RapidKL service.

In addition, Touch n Go users can now use their card on all RapidKL buses. The advantage of the new electronic fare collection system (based on Touch n Go) is that people would have to spend less time in queues. It also allows RapidKL to phase out the paper Monthly Travel Cards and soon, the paper day passes.

I wondered why RapidKL did not announce this information publicly months ago, when the Touch n Go card option became available.

I think I know the reason now.The MTC-Integrated and the MTC-Rail now cost more. Yes, I wonder how many people are aware that RapidKL has increased the cost of the MTC. Oh, and did you know that the price went up on Nov 1?And that the increase was RM10?

We have heard so much about the rising cost of bread and noodles and other products in Malaysia. And yet, why isn't anyone speaking out over the rising cost of using RapidKL train services? Could it be because Malaysian society or the Malaysian news media are truly not interested in public transportation?

RapidKL has accomplished a lot in the past three years but it still has a long way to go. There are still not enough bus routes, there are still many poorly planned bus routes, and there are delays, unpredictable schedules, incomplete connections, and rude and dangerous drivers. They still have not managed to integrate fares between the Ampang Line and the Kelana Jaya line.

Anyone who switches lines still has to pay an extra RM1 'starting fare' even if they are traveling only one station. Thanks to the RapidKL restructuring on April 21, more and more bus routes travel through Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, leading to increased congestion in the area. Many RapidKL buses only stop at KL Sentral on the trip into KL, and not on the way out.

All of these things are not fair to passengers and discourage people from using public transportation.

I would like to express my disappointment with RapidKL and with the news media for giving people no information about this price increase. I think RapidKL should justify the reason behind the price increase before taking it to the public. They are, after all, a government agency, 100% owned by Ministry of Finance Inc. In addition, responsibility for approving fare increases lies with the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board.