FOR the first time in many years, bus stations in Kuala Lumpur may actually be rid of touts.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Datuk. T. Murugiah, who heads the public complaints bureau, said he had not received any complaints from the public about touts.
“During the Hari Raya last year, we received 20 complaints. When we arrived the passengers were in tears after finding out their tickets were fake,” he said.
Murugiah believes the pro-active involvement from all the relevant government agencies contributed to the change.
He also said the presence of the Road Transport Department (RTD) officers as well as plainclothes detectives in the area had helped. Murugiah added the touts who were apprehended would be placed behind bars.
“We learned from our past mistakes and we have solved the issues so passengers can travel home in peace,” Murugiah added.
He said this during a site visit to Hentian Duta yesterday with the deputy director-general of RTD Ruhaiza Mohd Rashid.
According to Murugiah, the visit was a routine check to ensure passengers did not have any problems with their transportation back home.
As Murugiah spoke to passengers in the buses and the waiting hall, he distributed face masks to them as a precaution against A (H1N1).
Ruhaiza on the other hand said five to 10 officers on shifts were placed at each bus station depending on the size of the place and traffic flow.
“Our officers who are returning home for Hari Raya will also be making checks on their way at their respective stops,” she said.
She also said the heavy vehicles would not be allowed on the roads on Sept 18 and 19.
“We began our operations last week and it will end on Sept 28 as the crowd comes back to KL,” Ruhaiza said.
She also said based on reports from all the other stations, there had been no problems and everything was smooth sailing.
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