Public transport users upset with congestion amid Covid-19 resurgence
Public transportation users are expressing their frustration with the congestion amid the recent resurgence of Covid-19 in the country.
With the recent opening of the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that all forms of public transportation would be free for a month.
The prime minister described the move as a form...
Public transportation users are expressing their frustration with the congestion amid the recent resurgence of Covid-19 in the country.
With the recent opening of the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that all forms of public transportation would be free for a month.
The prime minister described the move as a form of help for Malaysians struggling with the rising cost of living.
What followed was best described by Twitter user @nr_tasnim’s tweet.
A picture of a packed train is attached with the tweet, with the user calling for someone to do something about it, especially with the rising number of cases.
“With (the) increasing cases of Covid-19, can you guys please do something about this?
“I went to LRT Sri Rampai early morning, and it’s packed like this, and I have to wait for another train,” lamented the user.
Meanwhile, a 42-year-old woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “It is risky to take the train as we are all bunched up together, especially during peak hours.
“But with face masks and frequent sanitisation, it should be alright.”
She also highlighted that she has no choice but to take the train as it is the cheapest option for her.
“To be honest, the train is the cheapest alternative, as Grab is expensive here.
“As I am from Johor Bahru, I do not have a car here too, so my next best option is taking the train,” she said to Malaysiakini today.
A 20-year-old student, who preferred to go by the name Ramesh, echoed her words.
“I do agree with the riskiness of taking the train, but I do feel that if we take the proper precautions, it will be alright,” said Ramesh.
Traffic jams
When asked about other alternatives, Ramesh cited various reasons such as traffic jams, and the difficulty of finding parking as his reasons for taking public transportation.
“I work all the way at KLCC, and taking the train is the best alternative compared to driving, or taking Grab.
“(This is because) it is cheaper and it is easier to park at any train station and go over to work by train,” he said.
A 27-year-old accountant, who wanted to remain anonymous, felt differently about the effect of congested public transport on the number of Covid-19 cases.
“No, I do not really think it affects the rising cases of Covid-19.
“I’ve taken the train a lot, and everyone wears masks, most people also have the decency to keep their faces away from each other.
“I’ve also personally never gotten Covid-19, even though I take the train every day,” he told Malaysiakini.
Nevertheless, he did agree with the previous two, saying that taking public transportation is the most convenient option for him.
“It’s way easier for me to take the train to work.
“It is a straight journey for me to go towards Kuala Lumpur, and it’s essentially more convenient for me,” he said.
In a reply to the earlier tweet from @nr_tasnim, another user, @AlfShahril, said that the most realistic solution would be to increase the frequency of public transportation itself.
Nevertheless, seeing as the timeframe for the free use of public transportation ended on 15 July, it is a possibility that the congestion of public transportation would decrease.
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