The Penang state government is requesting KTB to delay their termination of their Cityliner bus services by at least 2 weeks till 15 December 2011 to give time to finalise negotiations on continuing bus services. I had met KTB’s Executive Chairman And Managing Director Dato’ Sri Mohd. Nadzmi Mohd. Salleh together with Penang State EXCO member for public transport Chow Kon Yeow last week to discuss about their intention to terminate the bus services on 21.11.2011.
However KTB extended the termination till 1st of December 2011. The 32 Cityliner buses ply 7 routes carrying 560 people daily in Seberang Perai:-
1. Butterworth to Baling: BKE, Karangan – Kuala ketil – Baling (2 buses)
2. Butterworth to Padang serai: Penang sentral-chain ferry- Taman Inderawasih- chai leng park- sungai dua- pokok sena – kampung selamat. (6 buses)
3. Butterworth to Bukit Mertajam: Penang sentral-chain ferry- Taman Inderawasih- chai leng park- pacific mall – Jalan Baru – permatang Rawa. (10 buses)
4. Butterworth to Taman Pelangi: Penang sentral-chain ferry- Taman Inderawasih- chai leng park- pacific mall- kawasan perindustrian perai – Taman Pelangi. (2 buses)
5. Bukit Mertajam to Kuala Juru: B.M Plaza -Desa Damai – Jalan Kebun Sireh- Simpang Juru- Simpang Semilang- Kuala Juru.( 2 buses)
6. Bukit Mertajam to Parit Buntar: B.M Plaza -Desa Damai – Jalan Kebun Sireh- Bukit Tengah- Simpang Juru – Valdor – Permatang Tinggi- Jawi – Nibong Tebal – Parit Buntar. (4 buses); and
7. Bukit Mertajam to Nibong Tebal to Parit Buntar (4 buses)
After preliminary discussions, the State Government of Penang has been informed by Konsortium Transnasional Berhad that the Cityliner bus services in Seberang Perai will continue at least till 1 December 2011. The Penang state government hopes that the termination can be extended by KTB for another 2 weeks till 15th December 2011.
There are total fleet of 32 Cityliner stage buses, with 28 buses operating all 7 routes. The termination of service by city liner will affect the public transport user, and cause inconvenience to them. According to KTB city liner is running severe losses and it is no longer viable for the company to operate their services.
Meanwhile, the State Government is in active negotiations with KTB to seek out a viable and feasible remedy for the longer term. The Penang State Government will also negotiate with Rapid Penang to find solution.
The Penang State Government urges SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) to intervene with funding and resources as well as to review both social routes(unprofitable but providing for rural areas) and popular routes to ensure that they are served by the respective bus companies. If bus companies serving social routes can not be given popular routes, there should be some subsidy or assistance from SPAD.
The Penang State Government recognises the importance of public transport as an important social good and has provided free bus services. This year the state government spent more than RM 2 million to provide 16 BEST ( bridge express shuttle service transit) buses between Seberang Jaya and the Bayan Lepas FIZ and 3 buses touring the heritage enclave of George Town for free.
— Mandarin Translation —-
槟州首席部长兼民主行动党秘书长林冠英于2011年11月28日在槟城乔治市光大发表声明：
Konsortium Transnasional Bhd(KTB) 应该延长Cityliner的巴士停驶的时限至少多2周至2011年12月15日，给予时间谈判继续提供巴士川行服务的定案。
槟州政府要求KTB延长停驶服务至少2周至2011年12月15日，给予时间谈判继续提供巴士川行服务的定案。 我和槟州交通道理管理委员会主席曹观友在上周与KTB 主席兼 董事经理拿督斯里莫哈末纳兹米会面，商讨该公司打算在2011年11月21日起停止巴士服务的事项。
无论如何，KTB已决定延长该巴士公司服务至2011年12月1日，Cityliner 32辆川行威省的巴士每日搭客约560人， 7条川行路线为：
1. 北海至华玲：北海居林大道-加拉岸-瓜拉吉低-华玲 （2辆巴士）
2. 北海至巴东色海: 槟城中环广场-北海码头-凤凰花园-才能园-双溪赖-波格先那-平安村（6辆巴士）
3. 北海至大山脚：槟城中环广场-北海码头-凤凰花园-才能园-太平洋广场-新路-鱼池路（10辆巴士）
4. 北海至彩虹花园：槟城中环广场-北海码头-凤凰花园-才能园-太平洋广场-北赖工业区-彩虹花园（2辆巴士）
5. 大山脚至瓜拉柔府：大山脚高峰城-帝沙南眉-哥本斯里 -柔府-森米兰-瓜拉柔府（2辆巴士）
6. 大山脚至巴里文打：大山脚高峰城- 帝沙南眉-哥本斯里 -武吉丁雅-柔府-峇冬丁宜-华都-爪夷-高渊-巴里文打（4辆巴士）7. 大山脚至高渊至巴里文打 （4辆巴士）
经过初步商议，TKB公司告知州政府有关Cityliner川行威省的巴士服务将延至2011年12月1日，槟州政府希望该巴士服务延长多2周至2011年12月15日。
Cityliner巴士共有32车队，28辆巴士和7条川行路线，停驶将影响公共巴士使用者，造成他们日常生活的不方便。据KTB指， Cityliner面对严重亏损，所以该公司无法再承担有关营运费用。
州政府正积极与KTB谈判，以寻求一个可行的长期方案，州政府同时也将与槟城快捷通巴士谈判寻找解决方案。
槟州政府促请陆地公共交通委员会（SPAD）介入，同时提供资金和资源，以检讨社会路线（无利可图但必须提供予乡区）和热门路线，确保有公司负责这些川行路线，若川行社会路线的巴士公司不获川行热门路线，那SPAD应该给予津贴或援助。
槟州政府认同公共交通作为一项重要社会公益的重要性，并提供免费巴士服务，今年州政府拨出超过2百万令吉提供16辆BEST巴士（大桥快捷通）川行诗布郎再也到峇六拜工业区，还有3辆巴士免费载乘客川行乔治市古迹区。
林冠英