GEORGE TOWN: In a bid to further ease the burden of commuters amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the state today announced free, unlimited rides on all Rapid Penang buses beginning March 1 until Dec 31, this year.
State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state government had set aside RM300,000 for some 10,000 Malaysian commuters every month, bringing the overall total to RM3 million by year end.
To enjoy the free, unlimited service, he said, commuters only needed to purchase the Pas Mutiara My30 cards from Rapid Penang kiosks at a cost of RM10.
He added that existing Rapid Penang users could use their current cards.
"Every month, they will have to renew their cards at a cost of RM30. Beginning next month, the state government will bear the RM30 monthly cost until Dec 31, which enables them to enjoy free, unlimited rides on more than 50 Rapid Penang routes, including on the mainland.
"This proactive move is to help ease the daily expenses of commuters, who may be affected during the pandemic. The state government is more than happy to bear the cost.
"It is also the state government's hope to see more people grabbing this opportunity and start using public transportation instead of their own private vehicles," he said when announcing the good news at his office in Komtar today.
Present was Rapid Penang northern region head Ku Jamil Zakaria.
Zairil also thanked the Federal government for expanding the unlimited travel pass initiative, Pas Mutiara My30 to Penang starting Jan 1 as announced in the 2021 Budget.
Rapid Penang currently operates 400 buses. However, the number was halved during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Besides that, the Penang government also operates the free CAT George Town, CAT Bridge and CAT Seberang Jaya buses.