Bruneians not using public transport

THE Minister of Communications has defended the public transport system, saying that Bruneians are not taking advantage of the services that are readily available to them.

Bruneians should change their mindset when it comes to using public transport, said Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong in response to Legislative Council member Hj Shafiee Ahmad's query on the status of the public transport system.

"It is not that there is no public transport system in Brunei because it already has been provided for, however, the problem lies in how to change people's mindset to use the public transport which is readily available," he said during the State Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting on Saturday.

The minister added that the Land Transport Department is expected to introduce new bus route schedules and bus stops by the end of the year.

He further said that once tenders for the public transport are issued, the department will also be including other important criteria, such as the types of vehicle for bus services.

Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar said that these criteria will ensure that senior citizens will be able to use the bus services more conveniently.

Meanwhile, Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar announced that the ministry has reduced the costs of transhipment into Muara Port in a bid to encourage and attract new and old ships docking there.

This was in light of little improvements in transhipment in Brunei for the last three years due to stiff competition around Borneo island such as in Bintulu.

Ferry services were also highlighted during the LegCo meeting, where Brunei-Muara district representative Hj Bakar Mansor asked Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar whether his ministry will add Labuan to their current Serasa-Menumbok service.

"This service can reach Labuan, however the jetty there at the moment cannot accommodate our ferry as the current infrastructure does not support it," the minister responded.

He added that there will be no vehicle ferry services to Labuan, unless the authorities improve the jetty. "At the moment, the Menumbok-Labuan service is a domestic service in nature, while Brunei is an international service where we are crossing international waters into Malaysia," said Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar.

Other projects that were brought up include the airport expansion plan; ironing out the Land Transport Department's online service to include renewal licence and road tax applications; and providing WiMax services to rural areas in Belait.The Brunei Times