Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today launched the RapidKuantan bus service that will benefit and provide comfort to half a million residents in Kuantan, Pahang.

He said the service would also be provided free of charge to all passengers for one month beginning Monday.

“This is another product of 1Malaysia - People First, Performance Now.

“It is also another promise fulfilled. Within only two month (after the announcement), the Rapid bus service has become a reality,” he said when launching the bus service at Putra World Trade Centre where the 2012 Umno general assembly is being held.

Present at the launch were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob.

Najib said many other services and facilities would also be provided should the people renew their mandates for Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

The implementation of RapidKuantan service was announced by Najib when tabling the 2013 Budget and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) would expand the bus operation to Ipoh, Seremban, Kuching and Kinabalu.

In the first phase, RapidKuantan would offer the service along three routes, namely between Makmur bus terminal and Gambang, Indera Mahkota and Teluk Cempedak, and Court Complex and Sultan Ahmad Shah Polytechnic in Semambu.

Meanwhile, Public Land Transport Commission (SPAD) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar told reporters that the bus fares had been set at RM2 for a trip less than 20km and RM4 for more than 20km and that it would take effect on Jan 1 next year.

He said the routes for the bus service had been carefully selected so that they would not affect the existing public transport service, including taxi service to airports.

“The RapidKuantan operation offers a stage bus service which has not been made available by any other operators,” he said.

- Bernama