Hartasuma to build coaches for Asean and OIC markets
23 April, 2005

Hartasuma Sdn Bhd aims to sell its locally manufactured train coaches to railway operators in the Asean region and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Khatib Abdul Hamid said the company was currently in discussions with the State Railway of Thailand to supply its coaches.

"We are flexible and can either export our coaches completely built-up or assist Thailand in setting up a facility to assemble our coaches," he said.

Hartasuma has a contract worth RM21 million to manufacture 11 economy-class coaches for KTM.

KTM coaches that are imported from Japan and South Korea are more expensive compared with those manufactured by Hartasuma. The body shells for Hartasuma's coaches are imported from India.

The company's rail business is undertaken by its subsidiary, Ara Rails Technology Sdn Bhd.

Adapted from "The Star", 23 April, 2005

Deliver Best Services Possible, Transportation System Operators Told
October 13, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants transportation system operators to have a common purpose to deliver the best services possible in line with the government's intention to have 40 per cent of city dwellers opting for public transport by 2020.

"From drivers to technicians, control room operators to station managers, every individual involved must be adequately trained to provide exemplary services so that the entire public transportation network would be able to function smoothly, efficiently and punctually," the deputy prime minister said.

He said the low percentage of city dwellers using public transport was one of the contributing factors to traffic congestion in the Klang Valley and this was of great concern to the government.

Compared to 56 per cent in Singapore, Bangkok (30 per cent), Manila (54 per cent), Tokyo (49 per cent) and Seoul (60 per cent) in favour of public transport, Kuala Lumpur's share was a dismal 16 per cent and this was simply untenable in the long run, he said.

He said this at the signing of a sale and purchase agreement between Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) and Bombardier Hartasuma for the purchase of new train coaches.

An agreement was also signed between Prasarana and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) for a Corporate Diploma in Passenger Transport Management study programme besides the launch of Prasarana's new corporate logo.

"In most cases, the reluctance of Malaysians to embrace public transportation as a primary means of getting around is largely due to unsatisfactory services.

"We must be honest enough to admit that in our cities, travelling from one place to another by public transportation is still far from convenient. There is an endless stream of complaints about prolonged delays, poor vehicle conditions, inadequate coverage and infrequency or irregularity of services," he said.

Najib said it was imperative for Malaysia to boost public transportation as it moved forward with its development plans and that was why the government had approved a RM10 billion allocation for immediate to medium-term measures to improve the urban public transportation system.

He also noted that Prasarana had tabled its public transportation plan for the Klang Valley up to 2010 and as a first step, Prasarana is expending the Kelana Jaya Line LRT with the purchase of 35 new trains.

"It is our vision and hope that with all the new elements in place, public transportation in the Klang Valley will be a fully integrated system comprising the LRT, monorail, commuter train, express rail link and buses.

"We are confident that with all these measures in place, public attitudes will change and more and more city dwellers will opt for public transport as their primary means of intra city travel," he added.

-- BERNAMA