While the Penang government is projecting optimism that the state's bus service is back in order, local leaders are more cautious as to whether new operator RapidPenang can live up to expectations.

Tanjung member of Parliament Chow Kon Yeow said commuters are keen to know whether the bus service will improve when the RapidPenang service is introduced.

He said commuters are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, especially after the state government's broken promises over the years.

"Commuters are least bothered about which company runs the operations. They want efficient service, reliable schedules and reasonable rates," he told a forum on bus service in Penang over the weekend.

He blamed current woes on the 'rental system' adopted by bus companies 10 years ago. They rent out buses to individuals on daily basis.

As a result, bus drivers have been flouting rules and regulations to make as much profit as possible. They do not keep to routes and schedules and ply only routes with a large number of commuters.

"The state government should take sole responsibility for this," said Chow.

Bus Users Group (Bug) spokesman BK Ong said only time would tell whether RapidPenang will provide improved service.

He said commuters are reacting cautiously to the latest promise, because they have suffered for the past 10 years. A recent survey conducted by Bug found that the jury is still out on RapidKL services, he said.

And since commuters in Kuala Lumpur have yet to be convinced, Ong said it would be premature for the state government to boast about what RapidPenang can do.

"However, we hope that RapidPenang will rapidly improve the bus service to the delight of the Penang's long suffering commuters," he said.

'Conduct local study'

Penang Consumer Protection Association president Koris Atan said RapidPenang must find out more about localised needs before it can run a successful bus service.

"It must first accumulate public feedback and recommendations, and use the information as the backbone for its venture," he said.

Penang Parti Rakyat (PRM) Malaysia chairperson Gary GV Nair said it was ideal for the government to be involved directly in running a public transportation service, as done by governments in many parts of the world.

(Certain branches of the original PRM have retained their name and separate status, despite the party's merger with Parti Keadilan in 2004 to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat.)

Nair said no country could run a successful public transportation service without direct government involvement and subsidies, and that Penang's transportation system has suffered since the state government pulled out.

"Penang used to boast among the best bus services in the country between the 1950s and 1980s when the government was involved in it. Let's hope RapidPenang can emulate this," he said.

Jemaah Islah Malaysia president Mohd Rashid Hasnon said RapidPenang should implement a simple ticketing system and affordable fare to enable passengers to commute without hassle. He also called on the local government to upgrade bus stops and terminals.

Penang PAS Youth Leader Saiful Nizan said he welcomed the move to introduce RapidPenang services on the island, but questioned why this has not been extended to Seberang Perai on the mainland.

"The state government should work on a blueprint to upgrade the overall metropolitan transportation system, not just on the island," he pointed out.

RapidPenang is a subsidiary of RapidKL, a Klang Valley-based bus operator under Prasarana Negara Bhd, the investment arm of the finance ministry.

RapidPenang will deploy 150 new buses, bought at a cost of RM31 million, to ply both main and supporting routes on the island to complement existing bus services. It will also provide a bus link between the island and the mainland.