Bus operator Prasarana eyes code-sharing deal with competitors

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's largest stage bus operator, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd,
would spearhead a strategic collaboration exercise with its competitors
in a move similar to the code-sharing concept in the airline business
and the 'blue ocean strategy' collaboration between Malaysian Police and
the Armed Forces.
In a statement today, its group managing director, Datuk Shahril Mokhtar,
said the move was not only in the best interest of all the bus
companies for business sustainability but more importantly, would
further improve the standard of public bus services in the Klang Valley.
"Prasarana has already initiated discussions at both top and working levels with Setara Jaya Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Len Seng Sdn Bhd and it hopes to extend this collaboration with other bus companies in the Klang Valley," he said.
Shahril
said although the parties involved had yet to work on the specifics and
mechanisms of the strategic collaboration, the scope would include both
operational and business aspects.
"On the operational aspect, we
are looking at common scheduling and timetable, sharing of
infrastructure and manpower, common operating hours for high- and
low-density routes, standard fare structure, standard operating
procedures and exchange of industrial knowledge," he said.
In
terms of business collaboration, the parties aimed to work closely in
areas of bus leasing, integration of ticketing system, route sharing,
bus maintenance and shared engagement with the public, he said.
He
said the collaboration of major bus operators in the Klang Valley would
increase efficiency in the service and was in line with the
government's aspiration to encourage utilisation of public
transportation.
Such collaboration, he said, would result in
economies of scale in operations, including reduction in costs. "In
terms of social benefit, there would be enhanced punctuality, trip
frequency and reliability," he said.
Currently, there are 14
stage bus operators in the Klang Valley including Prasarana's RapidKL,
which is the largest operator in terms of fleet size and operational
coverage.
With a total of 1,488 buses, RapidKL's network covers 166 routes and 980 housing areas. It also operates RapidPenang. - BERNAMA