Anthony Loke’s report card: How did he fare the past year?

SHAH ALAM - Since he was sworn in on Dec 3, last year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has been one of the ministers dubbed as the most ‘efficient’ due to his notable achievements in improving transportation infrastructure and safety in Malaysia.

With his vast portfolio straddling marine, land, and air connectivity, Loke had kept himself busy for the past year.

Land

Shortly after he was reappointed to the position, Loke continued his tradition of going undercover just like he did during his tenure between 2018 and 2020.

This time, the minister, famous for his moniker ‘undercover minister’ conducted a spot check on the state of public transportation in the country, in a bid to improve the transportation sector.

His undercover missions had since been widely publicised, which helped improve his public perception and increased accountability as a minister.

Here are among the undercover operations he went on:

• In early December 2022, Loke went undercover on an LRT train to experience what commuters face daily. He wore plain clothes, a black cap, and a mask to blend in with the other passengers and posted on social media that the conditions on the train were cramped and uncomfortable for passengers. Three days later, he met with the LRT's management team to discuss how to resolve these problems such as escalators and lifts being magically fixed.
• On Dec 16, 2022, Loke went on the ground to check on the service by KTM Komuter as well as the condition of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) and subsequently held a meeting with TBS’ management to discuss preparedness and readiness to manage huge crowds of passengers, commuters and people during weekends and festive periods.

Besides going on the ground to experience firsthand what the commuters face in public, Loke had also improved transportation infrastructure and safety in Malaysia such as:

• Adopt an open payment system for public transportation agencies and operators: In September, under Loke’s tenure as the Transport Minister, public transport users could use alternative contactless payments such as credit and debit cards besides the previously default Touch ‘n Go card. Loke said he had instructed public transportation agencies and operators such as Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and KTM Berhad to adopt an open payment system.
• Unlimited public transportation travel: Loke introduced the My100 and My50 unlimited travel passes, which allow users to enjoy unlimited rides on public transportation for a fixed monthly fee. The initiative not only benefits commuters but also helps to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Road safety: In a bid to reduce road accidents, Loke introduced measures to improve road safety such as the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) with the aim to promote road safety.
• High-Speed Rail Project: Loke was actively involved in discussions and negotiations related to the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail project which could strengthen regional connectivity and promote economic ties.
• Improve the digital systems for number plate bidding: The e-bid helped to streamline the process of bidding registration numbers and made it more accessible to the public, which generated revenue for the government.
• Go green initiative: As the world increasingly focuses on sustainable transportation, Loke's efforts to promote electric buses and green transport options were commendable. He said that the adoption of sustainable and environmentally-friendly vehicles such as electric prime movers were set to transform the logistics sector, creating a new market for logistic solutions which aligned with the global trend towards reducing carbon emissions.

Air

• Under the air transport, Loke had introduced new measure including:
• Implementation of new systems to improve flight time: Loke stated that the aviation industry would see a much-needed improvement in terms of flight time with the implementation of new systems expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of air travel in Malaysia.
• Focus on perfecting the basics: Loke has emphasised the importance of perfecting the basics of air transport before moving on to bigger goals such as adopting sustainable practices to face the threat of climate change.

Aside from that, Loke also had to deal with one of the biggest transport issues as a minister when low-cost airline operator MYAirline announced suspension of its operations effective Oct 12. Following the announcement, Loke had called for the airline to issue a public apology to the 125,000 affected passengers and ensure a refund worth RM20 million for them.

He had also swiftly held a meeting with Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to decide on the status of MYAirline's Air Service Licence (ASL).

Throughout the crisis, Loke refused to speculate on the sudden decision but focused on addressing the issues faced by the affected passengers and ensuring that the airline was held accountable for its actions, which showed his commitment to passenger welfare and his efforts to hold airlines accountable for their actions.

Marine

In terms of the marine sector, Loke had implemented several measures to improve the marine sector in the country such as:

• Plan to strengthen Port Klang’s role: The Transport Ministry strived to further strengthen Port Klang’s role as a leading goods transshipment hub in the Asean region with meeting held with MSC, Maersk, CMA-CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd during his one-week working visit to Europe, which was aimed at encouraging these renowned shipping lines to boost their investments as well as presence in Malaysia.
• NSPC meeting: In May, Loke stated that the National Shipping Policy Committee (NSPC) would ensure that the local maritime industry remains competitive, with main issues discussed were the direction of the maritime industry and addressing current challenges