INTERVIEW FT Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii is probably better known as a hothead who likes to protest against DAP.

But when he's not out there fighting for Umno and the Malays, Razlan said, he uses his political connections to try and make life for the people in the Klang Valley a bit more bearable.

Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview last Friday, the 42-year-old said one of the things the Federal Territories Umno Youth has been fighting for since last year is for public transport discounts during the rush hours.

"Give discounts to those taking public transport during the rush hours, maybe from 6am to 9am, and also from 6pm to 9pm.

"At other hours the public transport operators can charge normal fare," Razlan said.

He said this could be achieved without requiring subsidies, if public transport operators optimise their expenses.

'Parking rate hikes a necessity'

Then, what about those pesky parking rate hikes? Well, Razlan said, they are a necessity, especially to upgrade parking services and facilities, such as enabling users to pay for parking using their mobile phones.

Plus, he said, public transport would be a more popular choice for getting into the city once the MRT project is completed.

"But the Malaysian mentality has to change.

"In other countries, in the United Kingdom for example, even CEOs take the train, so don't be embarrassed to take the train if you're a manager or whatever."

Besides this, Razlan said, he's also working with the Federal Territories Islamic Council (MAIWP) to set up affordable daycare centres in the city.

These daycare centres he said, would only charge a monthly fee of RM120 per month, which he said would be far lower than what most pre-schools are charging nowadays.

Razlan said that both these issues have been raised with the Finance Ministry, and he hopes it may be included in the budget.

"I used my networking to ask our second finance minister to think about this.

"When you have a political position, use it to help the people," he said.