KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has been honoured with the first ever International Best Practices Award for Transportation Innovation, Reform, and Multi-Modal Planning by the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR).
Into its 30th year, the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR), is a nonprofit educational and advocacy organisation dedicated to improving the practice of licensing, enforcement and administration of transportation through the sharing of
information and resources.
The award was presented by Matthew Daus, board member of US-based IATR, to SPAD chief executive officer, Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah along the sidelines of the Land Public Transport Symposium 2017 here on Monday.
In the citation read out by Daus who was also a presenter at the Symposium, he said: “SPAD’s efforts to formulate coherent policies and implement national reforms from a previously fragmented land public transport landscape including the recent future-friendly e-hailing regulatory framework aimed at providing Malaysians with a variety of mobility options resonated with the desires of many transport regulators elsewhere. On behalf of the IATR, we want to thank you, and congratulate you”.
In accepting the award, Azharuddin said the IATR award acknowledges the significant work carried out by SPAD over the last seven years and the Malaysian government’s commitment to adopting a holistic perspective to implement the vision for a vastly improved public transport system that can quickly adapt to the challenges of a country that is on its way to being a developed nation.
Established as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s public service delivery transformation agenda, SPAD was entrusted with the substantial mandate of improving the land public transport industry in Peninsular Malaysia to uplift livability standards and quality of life for citizens.
The formation of SPAD in 2010 paved way for the establishment of a central planning authority to formulate and implement transport strategies outlined in the National Land Public Transport Master Plan (NLPTMP) to drive greater integration of the public transport
network and ensure safe and seamless travel for Malaysians.
The Government’s target under the NLPTMP is ambitious — to have a 40 per cent modal share for public transport in Greater KL/Klang Valley by 2030.