Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email I was shocked to read that Rapid Penang is halting its service to KOMTAR area due to harassment to its workers. Are we living in some cowboy town or third world country??? Come Penangites, show those criminals who’s the boss!!! Boycott those companies who are giving problem. Even the newspapers are scared to name the bus companies, instead saying that “other buses” and “other companies”.
Perhaps those chaps who looked like Indians, but claim to be UMNO members who protested two Fridays back, can do a rally against this thug companies. Or should we call upon Makkal Sakthi to lead the way?
PAS members can also practice making citizen arrests just like they wanted to do in Kelantan.
The typical response from related organisations – more meetings!
Why not CLVB/JPJ go to the ground, take some pictures and straight away suspend the permit of those involved?
Why not the police make a patrol or permanently station some policemen there? Many reports made since last year! What has been done as preventive measure?
Where are those RELA guys when we need them?
The EXCO in charge also making ridiculous statement:
Rapid Penang should not skip the Komtar stop but find a way to solve the problem,
Err…like what? Carry guns around? Use bullet-proof buses? Hire security guards?” They are running public transport, not police or army!
Threatened, Rapid Penang skips Komtar
PENANG: Rapid Penang buses will no longer stop at the Komtar bus interchange from Friday onwards. Rapid Penang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said the company made the decision after one of its bus captains was threatened with a parang (machete) there on Sunday.
“This time, things have gone too far with a tonto threatening our bus captain with a parang in front of commuters. “We are concerned for our drivers’ safety and will not stop at Komtar until action is taken to stop such acts,” he said, adding that bus commuters at Komtar could board Rapid Penang buses at the next stop in Jalan Datuk Keramat.
Azhar was speaking at a press conference onboard a Rapid Penang bus on Thursday. He also showed pressmen the daily situation at the Komtar bus terminal, where buses from other companies often hogged Rapid Penang bus lanes. “Lane 1 and 2 are for Rapid Penang buses but the other bus drivers just drive in, stop their buses and sometimes even park there.”
Azhar said over a dozen police reports on threats and harassments had been lodged since last year. They included cases of tontos threatening to beat up and pour acid on Rapid Penang drivers, and other bus drivers banging into their buses on the road. Azhar said no arrests had been made so far. “We hope the authorities will be more committed to putting an end to such unethical practices, which are also making commuters suffer,” he said.
When asked to comment on Rapid Penang’s move to stop plying Komtar, state Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said it would inconvenient commuters. “Rapid Penang should not skip the Komtar stop but find a way to solve the problem,” he said.
“The state government will hold a meeting with representatives from the company, police, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP), Road Transport Department (JPJ) and other related bodies to find a solution as soon as possible to discuss the matter,” he said.
Rival companies’ intimidation force RapidPenang to stop servicing Komtar
By : Melissa Darlyne and Chow Phuah Ken Lin
source
GEORGE TOWN, Thurs:
RapidPenang will stop servicing Komtar with immediate effect. This follows intimidation by rival bus drivers on its employees. This means office workers from Komtar and nearby shops wishing to take RapidPenang buses will have to wait at the bus stop outside the Gama supermarket. RapidPenang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said the company buses would not go to Komtar until security for their staff was assured and enforcement stepped up by the authorities.
Azhar said RapidPenang bus drivers had lodged eight reports of being threatened and intimidated by rival bus company drivers but no action had been taken to stop the dirty tactics.
He said the latest incident happened five days ago when a RapidPenang driver was threatened with a parang. “A parang was placed at his neck and the driver was told his hands would be chopped off. He was just doing his job by stopping at a lane designated for RapidPenang buses but still he was threatened,” Azhar said, adding a police report has since been lodged. Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran had also been informed about the incident, he said.
Apart from rival bus companies using the lanes designated for RapidPenang buses, Azhar noted that rival companies were also using thugs to intimidate his drivers.
Checks at the Komtar bus terminal showed that rival bus companies were still using the lanes designated for RapidPenang buses, as well as blocking them. Further checks also revealed that certain rival bus companies parked their buses along no-parking zones.
State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he would arrange for a meeting with the CVLB, Road Transport Department and police to beef up enforcement at Komtar.
He urged RapidPenang to reconsider its decision not to stop at Komtar. “We don’t condone such a move by RapidPenang… however, I guess it is the best temporary measure until a permanent solution is found. RapidPenang is in a dilemma as it also has to protect the safety of its drivers,” Chow said.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azam Abdul Hamid confirmed police had received several reports about RapidPenang drivers being threatened. He said police were investigating the reports and had yet to arrest anyone. Asked about the latest case of RapidPenang driver being threatened with a parang, Azam said police had yet to arrest anyone as the complainant could not identify the suspect.He urged those who witnessed the incident to assist police and identify the suspect.
The Penang police seem to have abdicated their role of protecting the rakyat. They are also guilty of practising double standards – letting UMNO sponsored rally in front of Komtar for about 30 minutes before politely asking the demonstrators to disperse. Any other rally would have been dispersed with water cannons, tear gas and police thuggery.
Now they are impotent to act against tontos, illegal bus operators and they need clear identification to arrest thugs.
What next? Would they be asking all criminals to surrender to the police in their respective areas so as to facilitate the police to discharge their duties?
Come on, show some initiative and don’t just give press statements from the comfort of air-con rooms.
Its another game of KJ and the team. Creating bad image for the current goverment.
Since when RapidPenang start operate? and why is it now the bus driver been threaten and why this issue never brought up with BN gov time earlier?
What police is doing all this while, after so many reports lodge about the incident?
They can immediate action with hindraf supporters up to level of stopping bus from entering KL City and etc, why can’t they stop this!?
I doubt it is some kind of boycott from not going to komtar area.