In the aftermath of the Bukit Gantang bus crash, it is almost shocking to see how fast the Road Transport Department (RTD), Puspakom, and the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) have been able to 'take action' and institute proper inspections of express buses.

It was amusing to see how fast the notorious 'communications problems' that these agencies had amongst themselves - which prevented them from properly enforcing licencing and summonses - were able to disappear overnight..

It as also amusing to see how fast the bus operators have started complaining and making threats that bus services will be withdrawn, after facing a few days of pressure from 'Ops Bersih'.

Sadly, it seems more and more in Malaysia that each and every organisation seems to be acting in their own interest rather than the interests of the public.

For example, bus drivers blame the bus operators and RTD, the bus operators blame the RTD and drivers and make threats, while the RTD blames the CVLB and the CVLB demands the authority for enforcement, etc.

There is a hope that the public will soon lose interest and demand their bus services again. Bus operators are already talking about hiring 'walk-in drivers' which would erode the goal of making the roads safer. After 'Ops Bersih' is finished, what would have really be accomplished?

There is some hope, of course. Perhaps more Malaysians will now be encouraged to use KTM's train service. The double tracking is complete between Seremban and Ipoh, and there will be a new daytime train service between Singapore and Ipoh starting soon.

I would like to call on the government to use this opportunity to create a national public transport strategy that includes different modes of transportation.

By this strategy, KTM trains and reliable express bus companies would comprise the backbone of the public transport system. Other buses would be making medium and short-haul trips rather than long-haul trips.

Making shorter trips would actually help the bus companies because they could carry more passengers over shorter trips, which means that they can collect more revenue. Shorter trips also mean that drivers would drive for shorter periods, translating into fewer tired drivers on the road.

I would also call on the government to make a crucial decision that will help all commercial transportation in this country and that is that the CVLB should be under the Transport Ministry and not the Ministry of Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development.

The goals of the latter are just not in line with a national transportation strategy. Keeping the CVLB within this ministry will just maintain bureaucracy and be a waste of resources. By becoming a part of the Transport Ministry, the CVLB will be more effective as it will have a direct regulatory and enforcement role.