The population in Klang Valley towards 2020 will expected to exceed 6 million to 10 million. The increases in the population in Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur (KL) will increase the needed of the transports in that area neither in the public transport nor the private transports. Based on 2009-2010 statistics, the expected population of major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Petaling Jaya are as following:
City
Population’s Growth (%)
Kuala Lumpur
1,468,984
1,475,337
0.43
Petaling Jaya
543,413
638,549
17.5
Selayang
253,421
265,247
4.5
Kajang
428,131
448,243
4.7
Based on the data, we can see that rapidly growth in the major cities in Klang Valley. According to the growth of population, we suggests that these cities should be need an great improvement especially in public facilities such as transportation. In connection with the actions of the government’s plans to establish a public transport system; Mass Rapid Transit in the Klang Valley, this will bring benefits for the citizen.
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Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) is a new system which proposed the new line under the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur rail transit system. This system will be implemented as part of efforts to make Kuala Lumpur world class city under the 10th Malaysia Pelan (10MP). This new KVMRT system will be about 156km long, covering a radius of 20km from the city centre and have a capacity two million passengers per day. This system will supported by the network of feeder buses and covered walkways to provide end-to-end connectivity commuter and pedestrians. The KVMRT is connecting Sungai Buloh to Kajang which involves the construction of a 51km transit line. This system will pass through the KL city centre and be integrated with the existing KTM Komuter, Ampang LRT Line and Kelana Jaya LRT Line. It will have 35 stations and 2 depots. Therefore, we will be showing our opinion which also consists the advantages and disadvantages regarding the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit.
The Advantages of Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT)
2.1 Solve the worsening traffic congestion
KVMRT is a project that has a lots of advantage such as reducing traffic congestion in the city. We are informed that traffic congestion in the major city such as Kuala Lumpur is very critical. Although constantly upgraded infrastructure, but congestion still occurs even more badly. This is because the town is an area that became the focus of the public. Higher standard of living in Malaysia has also resulted in a rise in the number of vehicles on the road. Itineraries that do not systematically cause traffic congestion. Based on the survey conducted, there were 2.2 million vehicles in the area of Kuala Lumpur each day and the peak time for traffic congestion is at 8.00 am to 9.00 am and 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Studies shows the number of vehicles sold in the year 2010 indicated an increase of 605,156 units over the previous year but only 536,905 units, an increase of 12.71%. This study shows the number of vehicles on the roads is increasing and causing the traffic congestion, especially in the city more critical.
The existence of this project can solve the worsening traffic congestion. Besides that, the global oil prices are unstable and are at high levels. Residents will move to use public transport. This is because when using personal vehicles for any business it will require a high cost in view of rising oil prices. When using public transport, people will be able to reduce the cost of their daily and can help to decrease the traffic congestion of urban area.
Reducing road activity
The needed of the transports are important because it is deal to movement in daily life. By all this increases, it will also increase the road activity where there are large amount of transports in the road and will made gridlock in that area. Kuala Lumpur is too car-oriented. The increases in the public transports can be curbed if there was a good development in the public transportation sector. Therefore, to reduce this problem, the suitable ways is by the increases the uses of the public’s transport.
By the KVMRT project, it will reduce the road activity. It can reducing the road activity by encourage the passenger or the people to uses the KVMRT. The KVMRT is a world-class public transport system that are able to manage the efficient in uses of transports in the road. According the StarMetro news, the line will service same 1.2 million people around the Klang Valley and one KVMRT carriage can carry 300 people which is equivalent to 177 cars. (Priya Menon and Shauan Ho, 2011: M2) It shows that KVMRT can reduce the road problem in that area. It also can carry the large number of people and this can help people moved quickly and avoiding the road traffics that is the hindrance them movement every day. By only one carriage, it can less or decreases the uses of cars by 177 cars or equivalent 3 buses on the road. The road activity will decrease by the uses the KVMRT. Therefore, the KVMRT is touted to solve traffic congestion in the Klang Valley.
Reduce accident rates
The KVMRT project will also able to reduce accident rates. Accident is a problem that often occurs, and despite the various measures undertaken primarily by the government. However, it is still valid. Since the project is to help reduce and overcome the traffic congestion, accident rates indirectly also be able to be solved. This is because the reduced number of vehicles on the road because most people will use public transport (KVMRT) to carry out daily activities. KVMRT public transport as this provides a high level of passenger safety. It is miserable KVMRT has its own path and impossible to accident is happen. The table below show the statistic of accident from 2005 until 2009 :-
RECORD OF ACCIDENT IN MALAYSIA
Year
Total
2005
39,132
2006
28,682
2007
27,035
2008
25,865
2009
25,268
Statistik from Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya
Ministry of Transportation, Malaysia. (Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia, 2010)
Encourage more economic activities
Starting commencement of this KVMRT project, there will a lot of economic activities exists among them as short and long term investment and creating employment opportunities to people in surrounding and other areas. Through this development, the KVMRT project will be to assist countries in achieving the Vision 2020. Other multiplier effect and tax revenues to government would accrue during the construction period.
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KVMRT project will be built in strategic areas such as in the township. This project was made in the area that has a huge population like in the DBKL, MPKJ, MBSA and MPS jurisdiction. Residential area such as Setiawangsa, Kepong, and Cheras. Commercial and business zone more in Kuala Lumpur, Damansara and Kajang. The SBK Line traverses along highway and highly built up areas in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The project traverses areas under the jurisdiction of this 5 local authorities. As a result, in the future, many industries may exists and develop then this will lead to the growth of the economic in Malaysia.
In job creation factor, this project will be able to attract more workers at home or outside. The need to build the entire project will create many jobs for local people. It will be helping people find their source of income in carrying out this project.
Convenient to travel
The KVMRT system that are coming up will make our citizen convenient to travel. Let’s have a look at the circle areas like The Curve, One Utama, TTDI, Seksyen 17 and Sekyen 16 under the map below:
C:UsersMazuin HamzahPicturesUntitled.jpg
Currently, if the people who stay at outside of the Damansara areas and wanted to the selected area by using public transportations such as LRT, they have to take LRT and stop by at Kelana Jaya and then taking public bus – Rapid Bus to go to the selected areas. This coming project of KVMRT will convince people more. As we know the selected area is the main place that more people will wanted to go for every weekend. In this case, therefore, people will be delighted to get there. Beside that, traffic congestion always occurs between the road of Seksyen 16 to TTDI and with a new system of KVMRT the problem to get to the selected place will more ease for the citizen.
The same problem goes to Sambathan and Pusat Bandar Damansara because there are no direct way to get there. Therefore, mostly people have to take either LRT and public bus or they have to take two busses if they wanted to reach there. The direct way of KVMRT will ease people more compare to the current public transportation in Klang Valley. Actually there are many other place that should have public facilities especially in term of transportation. However the new KVMRT has cover the main places in Klang Valley that most of the people will go.
Besides, the 35 stations of this coming KVMRT system will create an ease access for a lot of places. Based on the map above, it will more convenient to go to the other places. There’s a lot of people complain that they can’t get to One Utama or The Curve without own transportation such as car or motorcycle. This problem can be handled by introducing the new system of KVMRT.
Other than that, there are no public transportation either bus, KTM, The Star or other public transportation that are able to go from Sungai Buloh to Kajang directly. Usually people have to go to KL Sentral to take another bus or train. Instead of taking KVMRT, it will more easier to reach the places such as Chocharane and Plaza Phoenix which are adjacent the road. Thus, the coming launch of KVMRT will make the access of one place to another place more easier, comfortable and less hassle.
Increase the standard of living
Besides, one of the advantages is to improve the quality of life. Through the KVMRT, the community located near transit stops, people can more easily and quickly settle their daily tasks. Daily activities can run smoothly and people can save a lot of time and can spend more time with their family. Location such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Seremban and Johor Bahru, the levels of pollutants from vehicles necessarily higher. With the KVMRT system of air pollution caused by vehicles to avoid further to improve the quality of healthcare.
Save cost and travel time
KVMRT project implementation could have a positive impact on urban environment in terms of economic efficiency, productivity and equality of life, as well as the quality of life. Some of the positive impact can be seen that there is a passenger time savings and vehicle operating costs and decrease the cost of an accident in which a platform is safe from the road. We can see from the general public respondents and feedback for the segment Sg. Buloh to Damansara showed that 41.9% agreed that the savings in time and travel time can be achieved. While the route from Maluri to Kajang showed 39.8% of respondents of the public and agree responses. A large percentage of 82% of respondents indicated that they still use the MRT as it is pleasing to the school or their movement into the market recorded a total of 49.5%. The route of Sg. Buluh to Kajang also able to reduce travel costs by RM1.6 billion each year. Reduction of traffic congestion resulting in a reduction of time can be expected of hundreds of millions. Those who use public transport will experience cost savings in vehicle operation. Savings in fuel costs and vehicle maintenance costs can be felt by consumers due to the reduction of car traffic.
The Disadvantages of Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT)
Perceptions of the Residents
For the KVMRT project, apart from the positive side of perception, there are also some perceptions of negative aspects of the project which are come from the residents’ opinions and perceptions and these are all the reason why the residents do not support the KVMRT project. We will discuss some residents’ perceptions of negative aspects here.
ERE Consulting Group had state some negative perception of respondents about the KVMRT project. Based from the Sungai Buloh to Semantan respondents’ perception of negative aspects of the project, 2.7% of them think that the KVMRT project may cause the problem of land acquisition or resettlement in some area (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 17). While, there are 8.1% of same negative opinion from the respondents from Maluri to Kajiang (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 18).
The residents are wonder if the KVMRT project cause some of the residents’ properties may be acquired and causes them resettled at another location if their properties fell in the path of KVMRT alignment (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 18). If so, the residents will because of the KVMRT project and lost their properties and home.
Apart from that, based from the Sungai Buloh to Semantan respondents’ perception of negative aspects of the projects, about 4.1% of them are think that, the project is too close to the residential area, and this will cause many problem to the residents who are staying near there (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 17). While, there are 0.8% of same negative opinion from the respondents from Maluri to Kajang (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 18).
When the track is too close with the residential area, it will cause many problems. According to some residents’ opinions, they do not support the KVMRT project is because they think that when the construction is too close with the residential area, this will create many problems in their housing area. For instance, this situation will create a lot of problem to the residents which live near with the construction or project area such as their safety problem, pollution problem (noise, dust, floods), and so on. These are the problems that always worry by the residents (ERE Consulting Group, 2011: 18).
Prove to mismanage
In this project, we will able to know how they manage the funds and operations to ensure the success of the MRT project is to complete the level to be proud of. Fund management is vital because it is the main source in implementing this project. In this case, the funds used to build the railway and the track is very high if compared with the construction of other railways. A very high cost needed to strengthen the system for this project. It is not denied in the project management of the fund will not deviate the path should not be spent. Practice of corruption will occur and the effects the funds allocated will be affected.
Cause pollution problems
The disadvantages of MRT project is will cause pollution problems. It is because of the construction project is close to residential areas. Hence, people living near the project area will experience disturbance and pollution problems such as dust and noise pollution. This problem is experienced by people living in the 30 meter distance from the Sungai Buluh Route to Kajang. total 2080 housing units, 2980 units of condominium / apartment units and 1,000 flats located within 30m of the route corridor SBK. In addition, there were 12 institutions, three mosques, two churches, a temple, four hospitals and 40 medical centers and government complexes and shopping centers. Measurement of sound levels to 24-hours has been conducted for 18 locations on 26 July -20 August 2010 and 1 December 2010 – December 30, 2010 found that most of the noise level exceeds the level specified for residential areas of Town (60dBA to 50dBA for the day and time night). The problems caused by haze construction machinery and construction activities undertaken during this project.
Safety to resident not guaranteed/crime/theft
These effects in terms of security of the population is not guaranteed, crimes such as theft occurred. A travel from Maluri to Kajang create the boiling response of the public respondents showed 13.1% expressed their concern for the safety of the people associated with crime. The public is through the quiet lanes may be exposed to the risk of theft. In addition, other problems such as risk to public safety associated with the residents, workers, road users and nearby buildings. Underground works concern to employees – workers engaged in construction and public works within the range of the area of safety factors. In addition, the school SJK (C) Nam Kheung were nearby ‘Maluri Retrival Shaft’ was one of the critical areas. The use of special equipment used for construction of multi segment (elevated) view of the work carried out at height. Members of the public and employees who are under or near the work elevated dealing with high security risk.
Create the parking problem
The increases in the private transports such as cars will create the gridlock on the road. Although the KVMRT will reduce the road activity by its strengthens in carried the large amount of people that are equal to 177 cars uses or 3 buses uses, it will create a high problem around that area. KVMRT will create the parking problem on the KVMRT areas such as its station and the depots. KVMRT project will give effect on the parking problem in two situation or time that is when construct the transports station or KVMRT network line and when that project complete.
When the construct time, more than one activity should be manage proper begin such as the utilities like water and sewer mains, electrical cables, gas pipe and so on. This activity will may temporary loss the parking space and will create the parking problem on that area. Beside that the moved process will used the large number of area and it will sacrifice the old area. The construct time also can temporary closed the road that will make the gridlock in the road and temporary closure of road lanes.
By the time, the KVMRT project will complete and it always create the parking problem but in the area of the depot or the station. The increases in the Klang Valley and KL area will increase the demand of public transport such as cars because the KVMRT are enable easier connectivity between the populated on that area. The needed of the public transport also will increase and to ensure the passenger can uses the KVMRT transport system, they need to find the parking area for them cars. People will park area the station or the depot if they want used the KVMRT transports. So, the KVMRT station should be more in parking area and if not the parking problem will exist in a big situation.
By with the efficiencies in construct the KVMRT transports system, it will create the parking problem in that areas weather in the construct time or when it become complete. The parking problem will make higher problems and will increase the social problem.
4.0 Some Thought Regarding KVMRT
Upon knowing this matter, the residential especially around the areas which are included in the coming project argues will probably argue with each other, one side that said this project brings more harm to our Mother Earth and one side that supports this project, as our group did before we realize that every physical development around the world will at least affect the atmosphere of Earth and, of course, human. The negative effects of physical development cannot be prevented, but it can be reduced, at least to a level that the harms directed to Earth and its life form is low.
One of the ways to minimize the effects of physical development of this project is to complete the project at a faster rate (should it be carried out). People will begin to use the KVMRT when the project has been done, reducing the rate of air pollution caused by the extensive use of fossil fuels to operate automobiles. However, it may not be visible to the people because most of them will only see the good this project will do to them; less money to spend on fuels in this dire times. But does this mean that the government will get the same benefits as the people do? This method requires great amount of funds.
Other methods to reduce the effects of the KVMRT project also require more and more funds. This then leads to another question; will the government be willing to put more money on this project? The extra fund needed can be used for other matters that are no less important than this project is such as developing rural areas to reduce the rate of poverty in the nation, enhancing the tourism sector to attract more tourists, and many more. It all goes back to the government to decide about it.
5.0 Conclusion
As a conclusion, there are pros and cons regarding to this Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit that coming up soon. From the discussion above, the KVMRT project has many benefits to the people once it is completed but they will have to bear with the problems that may appear during the completion of the project. Should the government decides to continue with their plans? We believe that this project should be able take Malaysia closer to its target; to be one of the world’s advanced countries by 2020. But from what have been discussed above, they are many negative effects, some may occur and some will occur, to the people and the environment if the project is carried out.
Therefore, the KVMRT, without doubt, brings good benefits to the people, but it put a strain on the government; invest more, find methods that require fewer funds, or just go on with the current plan? The people will also have to face the problems that may and will happen during the completion of the project. We know that the KVMRT project has a great chance to be carried out albeit the fund it requires and the problem that may arise when it is on the construction stage.
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