CELEBRATION: The special bonus is to mark RapidPenang’s fifth anniversary
GEORGE TOWN: BUS passengers here with RapidPenang concession cards will enjoy a special RM5 discount next month. The bonus is to commemorate the bus company's fifth anniversary celebration since it began its operations in the state on July 31, 2007.
RapidPenang chief operating officer Jamali Soaidin said holders of the Rapid Preferred (adults), Rapid Youth (students), Rapid Emas (senior citizens) and OKU (disabled individuals) cards are eligible to enjoy the discount.
He encouraged RapidPenang users to sign up for the concession cards as they would save more on bus fares.
He also said the company would be boosting its passenger safety when the new 80 buses arrive in December or early next year.
The new buses will each have at least five closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor what goes on while the vehicles are on the road, allowing the drivers to keep a close watch on their passengers' safety.
The CCTVs will also monitor the fare boxes and record accidents involving the buses.
"For now, our existing buses only have two CCTVs each, which are used by the drivers to monitor the passenger doors and to assist them when they reverse.
"With more CCTVs, we hope to keep our passengers safer," he said at RapidPenang's fifth anniversary celebration here last week.
The move to install additional CCTVs was prompted by recent spate of pick-pocketing cases on the company's buses here. The incident has also led the police to deploy plainclothes officers on buses to nab the culprits.
Jamali said bus ridership in Penang was six million a year in 2007 when RapidPenang started its services but the number had gone up to a projected 34 million passengers on its 46 inter-corridor routes around the island and on the mainland.
He said everyone must continue to work together to convert more car users into bus users to overcome traffic problems here.
He also thanked passengers in Penang for giving their feedback and suggestions to help RapidPenang improve its services and urged those with complaints about drivers being rude, speeding and the embezzlement of bus fare to come forward as witnesses.
"Without proof, we will not be able to take action," he said.
The company's anniversary this year was celebrated at its Pengkalan Kota depot here with a durian party with its staff and representatives from the state government, the police, hotels and the media taking part.
There was also a durian eating contest between representatives of RapidPenang, the police, hotel industry and media.
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