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'Hello, hello, when is my bus coming?'
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Sun, Aug 31, 2008
New Straits Times
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>GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - From tomorrow, all commuters need to do is call 04-2381313 to know how long it would take for the next Rapid Penang bus to reach their stop. Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said commuters could use the hotline for 18 hours a day beginning from 5am.
Speaking after launching the Penang Intelligent Commuter Information System (ICIS) at Gurney Plaza here yesterday, Azhar said commuters would also be able to download the bus arrival schedule through the short messaging service (SMS).
The ICIS is an innovative automatic vehicle locator system which uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to keep track of the buses.
"Rapid Penang's fleet of 150 buses is the first in Malaysia to be equipped with the Global Positioning System."
Azhar said 17 million people had used the Rapid Penang bus service since the company began operating on Aug 1 last year.
He said Rapid Penang would take delivery of another 200 new buses over the next 12 months.
The new buses will reduce commuters' waiting time from 25 minutes to 10 minutes, besides expanding services to 14 new routes on the mainland.
A total of 140 new buses will also have disabled-friendly facilities, including a state-of-the-art ticketing system.
Azhar said Rapid Penang had proposed to the state government to take over the maintenance of 300 bus stops on Penang island.
This would improve the quality of the facility for the public and the disabled.
Azhar later flagged off two buses carrying 25 teams of contestants taking part in the Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt.
The teams were from various organisations and companies like Kelab Media Pulau Pinang, Penang Press Club, Intel, Osram, CIMB bank, Penang Island Municipal Council, Celcom, Maybank, Agilent, Holiday Inn, Befrienders and Robert Bosch.
The carnival also had a colouring contest, dance competition and a performance by international superstar Vandal.
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