GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia: RapidPenang has proven to be a success story with some 1.7 million commuters using the bus service every month.
RapidPenang Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said the figure represented a 23 per cent increase on a monthly average.
He said this was despite the fact that the company was operating only 33 routes using 150 buses.
Since the company began operations on Aug 1 last year, some 17 million commuters had used the RapidPenang bus service.
"We are confident that the figure will increase significantly by the end of next year when we take delivery of another 200 new buses," he said at the company's Hari Raya and Deepavali open house here on Saturday.
Present was Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
Azhar said with 350 buses next year, he expects the commuters to increase from 50,000 daily at present, to 120,000 daily.
There will be at least 14 new routes the new buses will ply.
"We will continue to take steps to improve our bus service."
Speaking to reporters before chairing the Tasek Gelugor Umno Youth and Puteri meeting in Kepala Batas on Sunday, Nor Mohamed said the Federal Government would look at ways to help the company to expedite the purchase of new buses.
"There has been huge demand for RapidPenang bus service, especially in the rural areas."
