By Liew Chin Tong
The government’s decision to increase petrol prices by another 20 sen on February 1, after a 20 sen increase on January 1, is an appalling move with huge economic and human costs and consequences. In particular, I have argued before that such a move has been known to result in more motorcycle deaths.
What concerns me the most is that without accessible public transport nationwide, we will see more motorcycle deaths in the months to come.
Research has shown that motorcycle fatalities shot up as a result of the March 2006 and June 2008 fuel hikes as the lower income group switched transport modes from cars to motorcycles. People do this to save cost, and we know our economy is getting worse by the day.
Motorcycle deaths are three times higher than car fatalities, six times higher than pedestrian fatalities and nearly 50 times higher than bus passenger fatalities. In fact, 60% of road deaths involves motorcyclists.
Every traffic accident is a tragedy, but such unnecessary deaths can be avoided if we have a good and decent public transportation system.
In countries where public transport services are adequately and efficiently provided, petrol price increase will encourage private car drivers to switch to public transport, instead of resorting to motorcycles.
While our LRT and MRT services may be seen as a part of the public transport system, it is not the right solution.
The multi-billion ringgit LRT extension lines and new MRT projects are essentially mega projects designed to feed the big construction lobby rather than improve public transport throughout the country. These big projects are not economically viable and affordable for towns and areas outside major cities.
These infrastructure are concentrated in the Klang Valley. Meanwhile, public transportation has not improved in states and regions outside this area. Even in the Klang Valley, reports have shown that the LRT extension lines and MRT projects have not reduced traffic congestion and has not led to massive switches of transport modes due to expensive fares and lack of the last mile connection – huge rail-based infrastructures are built without proper feeder bus systems.
It is time the people demand for a massive increase of bus services throughout the country. Buses are the most affordable mode of public transport, and if planned and run properly, it will be the cheapest and fastest way to improve the public transport network for the largest number of people in the widest areas possible.
To make this a reality we cannot escape from implementing institutional reforms.
First, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should be placed under the Transport Ministry to make improvements to public transport the most important political and policy agenda of the minister and his ministry.
Second, powers of managing public transport should be partially devolved to the state governments so that the state governments are allowed to plan, manage and provide public transport to ensure the widest spread of public transport access.
Third, local authorities should be tasked to ensure that all planning of cities and townships are given priority to bus-based public transport to make public transport highly accessible, affordable and viable.
It is farcical to see some Umno leaders paying for free petrol for motorcyclists, as if they are on some guilt trip.
I can understand and support opposition leaders paying for free petrol for motorcyclists as it is a sign of solidarity with them. But for Umno leaders to do so, it is an oxymoronic move as it is their government that imposed the double petrol hike in less than two months this year.
I also call on Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Razak to immediately disclose the petrol and diesel price mechanism to show transparency.
As DAP MP for PJ Utara Tony Pua had competently shown us, there is no basis at all to the latest petrol hike. This hidden “dirty float” mechanism should end with the government making all details public.
Those in power must remember that each fuel hike exercise means more deaths on the road, especially for lower-income motorcyclists.
Liew Chin Tong is DAP National Political Education Director and MP for Kluang.
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