Athi Veranggan's report Penang's 'outsider' bus service draws flak is not a serious piece of journalism because it merely parroted one source, Ong Boon Keong of SOS, without including interviews from other protagonists like the state government and other more serious and representative NGOs like Cepat in Penang.

He started his report by saying that 'the Penang government's decision to surrender control over the state metropolitan transport system to the federal government by allowing RapidKL to start bus operations in the state has drawn flak'.

This shows his lack of research on the subject. Does he know that under the present structure of government, like all states in Malaysia, Penang has no control (therefore no funds) in the running of the bus system in the state? Without any control, how could Penang surrender it to the federal government?

His mistake could be because he believes too much in the words of Ong Boon Keong of SOS, who went even further to say that this was 'the weakness' of Penang's CM, Dr Koh Tsu Koon. Clearly, Ong is more interested in looking for a punching bag.

The state bus system has deteriorated so badly that it is difficult for any bus operator to turn it around. Even if it can be done, it will take years. One should nor forget that long years of neglect of this public transport has resulted in commuters using their own means of transport. It must be a formidable task to persuade them to switch to public transport now.

Under the present circumstances, it is a better bet to opt for PenangRapid, being a federal government-linked company, to revamp the bus system in Penang. That's why the response for this move has mainly been positive among Penangites.

It is the duty of all Penangites to cooperate and see that RapidPenang succeeds. It should be given a chance to prove itself. Critics should not be too eager to demonstrate their 'farsightedness' in proclaiming the death of PenangRapid before it is born.