KUALA LUMPUR: JBB Builders (M) Sdn Bhd (JBSB) and Gemilang Coachwork Sdn Bhd (GCSB) has partnered to partake in the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) initiative, following the launch of the pilot test on Wednesday by the Johor state government.
GCSB managing director Pang Chong Yong said bus rapid transit (BRT) is a bus-based public transport system that includes roadways that are dedicated to buses, and gives priority to buses at intersections where buses may interact with other traffic, alongside design features to reduce delays.
"Therefore besides buses, the overall planning and execution for dedicated bus lanes, bus stations and bus stops are believed to be equally important," he said in a statement today.
GCSB is a company that specialises in technical services such as bus-related information technology (IT) infrastructure, operating control and information centre, fare collection system and many other bus-related products and services.
JBSB is a key active player in the marine construction industry that also specialises in building and infrastructure services.
JBSB and GCSB had showcased their fully-electric bus prototype for the IMBRT at the launch of the IMBRT pilot test event.
Three out of six buses that were presented at the IMBRT launching uses GCSB's main product, which is the full aluminium bus body system.
The two Johor companies had also demonstrated their capabilities on the road with the prototype which consists of GCSB's aluminium bus body superstructure and Zhejiang CRRC Electric Vehicle Co Ltd's fully-electric powertrain.
Pang said with the combination of strong industry experience and track records of GCSB and JBSB, they will be able to contribute to their home ground by providing high quality, commercially feasible and the most cost-effective BRT solution for the Iskandar Region.
According to GCSB, this particular bus model has been driven in Perak, Putrajaya, Shah Alam and tested for one full year in Kuching prior to the deliveries of four commercial units last month for Kuching Metro Electric City Bus, launched on March 2 this year.
The company's zero-emission aluminium buses are mainly shipped to export markets such as USA, Australia, Singapore and other countries.
The IMBRT is a strategic national initiative to develop a reliable and convenient bus transit system to improve accessibility of the communities in Iskandar Malaysia.
It is the first comprehensive state-level implementation of a BRT system in the country and will serve as the backbone of the public transportation infrastructure in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is expected to increase the use of public transportation in Iskandar Malaysia from 15 per cent currently to 40 per cent in 2025.
According to the state government's target, about 90 per cent of Iskandar Malaysia would be covered with a public transportation system by 2025, from the existing 39 per cent.
Johor has started a three-month pilot testing for the IMBRT system using electric and biodiesel-based green technology buses from nine local and international bus suppliers.
The IMBRT project is expected to be fully completed within the next two years.