The school van service, available from selected train stations for RM50 sen, aims to provide students with an affordable and convenient transportation option.
Two Initial Routes Have Been Identified for the School Van Service Program
A new van service offering 50-sen rides to shuttle school students from selected train stations is set to launch in 2025 through the Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) system.
As reported by Bernama, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) stated that this initiative aims to provide students with an affordable and convenient transportation option, easing their daily commutes.
Two initial routes have been identified for the DRT pilot program, covering the Sri Rampai and Melati LRT stations.
“The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on parents by introducing cheaper fares. Currently, school van fares are RM90 per month, while the DRT fare is only 50 sen for students and RM1 for regular passengers,” the statement read.
In line with the government’s commitment to reducing living costs and enhancing public services, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation of RM750 million for MoT’s public transportation projects during the presentation of Budget 2025.
MoT also provided an update on its plan to procure electric buses. The first phase will see the rollout of 250 buses between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2026, with an additional 645 buses scheduled for 2027-2028.
“These acquisitions are necessary to replace ageing buses, improve passenger safety and reduce maintenance costs. This initiative will expand capacity, reduce headways (the time interval between public vehicles on the same route), provide a more comfortable travel experience for passengers, and support the government’s environmental sustainability goals, ” it said.
MoT also welcomed the extension of the My50 Monthly Pass for Prasarana’s rail and bus services in the Klang Valley. The ministry will work closely with the Finance Ministry on the approved funding for 2025, following this year’s RM200 million allocation.
Another significant initiative is the free fare program for Malaysian students at universities, polytechnics, community colleges, and matriculation centres nationwide using the BAS.MY service. MoT anticipates this will benefit over 400,000 students across more than 60 institutions.
At the same time, MoT announced plans to identify 100 bus stop locations for construction or upgrades, working in collaboration with the private sector and government-linked companies.
Regarding the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) project, MoT expressed full support for its development as a regional maritime hub.
“We welcome the proposal to construct and upgrade the Pulau Indah Ring Road and the North Port Klang, Selangor at a cost of RM107 million. These improvements will help streamline the movement of goods and ensure road safety, ” the statement added.
In addition, MoT highlighted the RM6.4 billion in financing from Bank Pembangunan to support various sectors, particularly in transport and logistics, focusing on the maritime industry.
“The proposal to grant investment tax allowances to logistics companies engaged in smart logistics complexes is expected to boost the logistics industry’s capacity by adopting IR 4.0 technologies. This tax incentive is crucial to support the growth of the high-tech logistics industry and the government’s aspiration to position Malaysia as a regional logistics hub by 2030, ” it said.
Finally, MoT reaffirmed its commitment to the MADANI Adopted Village initiative, with Kampung Orang Asli Ngoi-Ngoi in Negeri Sembilan selected as the program’s beneficiary.
