Anthony Loke: Only about 51% of Rapid Bus' aging fleet usable today; new EV, diesel buses coming starting 2024

Only almost half of the buses that Rapid Bus operates are in use, revealed Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Answering to Kluang Member of Parliament (MP) Wong Shu Qi, he said that out of 1,757 buses currently managed by the company, only 900 were active as 45 percent of them are already above 10 years old, hence needing repair and maintenance work.

"Rapid Bus carries out maintenance on all buses under our ownership. The number of buses under repair compared to the number of buses available for operation varies depending on the type of repairs being carried out on a particular bus," he explained.

Touching on why current bus operations cannot be optimised, Loke said that there's a shortage of bus captains, among other factors. To address this issue, active recruitment activities are being carried out, and to attract more potential candidates, improvements in employee benefits have been implemented, such as increased allowances and grades for bus captains," he clarified.

Also read: Sabah introduces first EV bus; More green public transportation in Malaysia!

Further to that, Loke, who also serves as Seremban's MP, said that new electric and diesel buses are on their way here beginning 2024. This is in part of the greater 'Fleet Replacement and Electrification Program' to replace the aging and high-risk buses.

Also read: Rapid KL begins trial of 4 BYD EV buses, to replace dirty diesels