Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy has been told to travel by public transport for one working day to get a flavour of some of the problems faced by commuters.

"The public transport system seems to be planned and even run by people who never use it hence it is hardly user-friendly," lamented a joint memorandum by the Public Transport Campaign Coordinating Committee (PTCCC), which comprises eight non-governmental organisations.

"This situation has resulted in poor confidence in public transport and has, in fact, resulted in more private vehicle owners using their vehicles on city roads, adding to the congestion and chaos - not to mention our notorious traffic accidents - especially during rush hours."

It added that many commuters spend hours every day waiting for their public transport vehicles and have to force themselves into overloaded ones during peak periods.

The four-page memorandum, which was sent to Chan last Tuesday, also urged the transport minister to avoid bad policy decisions such as the three incompatible light rail transport (LRT) networks operating in Kuala Lumpur.

"We are appalled by the apparent lack of integrated planning, inconsistent policies and operating procedures and services rendered by the public transport sector, causing great inconvenience and detriment to the members of the public who are reliant on public transport," said the memorandum.

The document, which was accompanied by some 2,000 signatures collected from the public in June last year, was endorsed by PTCCC members - the Centre for Environment, Technology & Development, Environmental Protection Society, Federation of Family Planning Associations, Malaysian Government Pensioners Association, Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Malaysian Nature Society, National Council of Women's Organisations and Soka Gakkai Malaysia.

Heavy air pollution

PTCCC executive director Gurmit Singh also decried that the transport minister had failed to appoint a ministerial representative to sit in the committee despite numerous requests.

He added that a proper public transport system will help improve the health of city dwellers.

"It will reduce the already heavy air pollution and the corresponding expenditure on health services to combat the air-pollution's ill-effects," said Gurmit.

According to the memorandum, a report by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment to the United Nations indicated that 49 percent of carbon dioxide emissions - arising from fuel combustion in 1994 - were attributed to the transport sector.

"This figure could have only risen by now. We believe that this - together with other air pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur - directly compromises our health and that of our family and loved ones," it added.

The memorandum also furnished some of the feedback PTCCC has obtained from the public.

"Most bus-stops have no indication of which buses stop there, when they can be expected, and what routes they ply," said Gurmit.

"There is no seamless connection between different modes of travel and even changing between the three different LRT systems involves long walks, crossing busy roads, getting soaked in the rain, and buying separate tickets."

Moreover, many housing areas have and are being built without any provision for an adequate public transport system.

Gurmit urged Chan to establish a land transport authority to coordinate the various fragmented tasks presently undertaken by various agencies, and to set up a powerful public transport department.