Floods and Logistics

The recent floods in the Southern part of Peninsular Malaysia raise few points with regards to logistics and transportation.

1. Movement of goods for relief purposes is very important. Its about life and death.
2. Cheap, fast and safe movement of supplies to flood victims is the main factor to be considered.
3. Quick evacuation of the children, elderly and disabled is top priority.

As such transportation planning and coordination in such circumstances is very critical. Do we have enough professional to execute the mission?

DOE to videotape smoky vehicles

The article from STAR Newspaper on smokey vehicles is a welcome signs that things are changing. Transport should not contribute to air pollution.

DOE to videotape smoky vehicles

I was in Penang recently. Conducting a class on transportation planning for CILT students. We discussed few issues pertaining transportation in relation to the Malaysian Economy. It was quite fortunate that we have with us a copy of the newspaper pull-out section on the economic report presented by the Prime Minister in his 2007 budget presentation in parliament recently.

After a lengthy discussions the class came to the following conclusions:

• The economy will continue to grow at about 6% per annum for a foreseeable future.
• The manufacturing sector is also poised to grow, even though at a slightly lower rate.
• The agriculture sector will be the focus of the government.
• However we noticed that the service sector failed to produce the expected growth.
• Malaysia exported more that what it consumed. Therefore the balance of trade is in her favor.

The impact of the above to transportation will be as follows:

• People will enjoy a favorable economy. Their disposable income will increase. As such we can expect that more people will be able to own cars. Perhaps more than one car per household. This will translate into more traffic congestion. More stresses and higher medical bills.
• Since the manufacturing sector continues to record a substantial growth, we should expect the migration of people from rural to urban areas will increased as compared to previous years. More urban population. More sprawling of townships. Making travel much more difficult. Thus increasing the cost of travel.
• The increase in exports and imports of goods will create generate growth of traffic at ports and airports. If the feeder services from factories and warehouses are not improved than the congestion at ports will continue to increase.

To enhanced the transportation due to the favorable economic outlook, the following were suggested:

• Enhanced the availability of public transportation. Targetting more that 50% of the population to be using public transport in their daily activities. Compared with just 18% today.
• Increase the roles of rail systems in the movement of goods in and out of ports and airports.
• Proper urban planning to avoid sprawling. And ensure the urban areas are public transport friendly.
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES MUST BE GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.

We all must strive to make Malaysia a new model of an industrialized country. Where cultural values, modernization and ecosystem are in balanced

Reduce Road Accidents

In Malaysia for the last three months were very busy period. The are many festivals and holidays. People took advantaged of the situations to visit friends and relatives. The highways were congested. Busy..busy...

Since many are fond of using their own private cars and vans, public transport were not popular. One would only use public transport if there were no other choices. But of course we offer world class excuses for not using it.

But what price are we paying? lives...hundreds died because of accidents during the festive holidays.

Use public transport and surely we can reduce road accidents and prevent unneccesary lost of lives.

I support the government in their campaign !!!

New automobiles but what about public transportation ?

The number of new cars on the road is increasing. In Malaysia, new models are introduced every year by the national car manufacturers and also many more are imported.

This is what the Star newspaper reported recently " Perodua's managing director Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar recently said that sales of MyVi have surpassed expectations: There are already 19,000 MyVis on the road and we expect it to grow to 36,000 units by end of this year." This is only one model... what about other models

I am concerned with such increased in private automobiles, are there enough land in Kuala Lumpur and other big cities to build roads for these new babies. Do we have the fund ?

Sad to see that the development of public transportation is not at the same level of activities with the private cars. Studies have shown that public transportation is much more effective than private cars in urban areas.

We must understand that movement is an important factor in ensuring a better life in this modern world we call HOME.

 

The public transport in SYDNEY offer many choices to the travelling public. Such as Trams, Monorail, Busses and Taxies. Couple with a good road system, efficient traffic management the city transportation is flowing smoothly even during peak hours. However we can observed in some part of the city there are traffic congestions during peak hours.  

SYDNEY light rapid system, The Tram. 

SYDNEY MONORAIL SYSTEM 

Information is vital in public transportation

In public transportation one very important element in ensuring effective connectivity is information. My friend in France took this photo inside a bus, which have a digital display about the bus stop and location in a given route. 

France Bus System: A Malaysian student experience

A friend recently went to further her studies in Toulouse, France. Being Malaysian whose main mode of transport is the automobile, the bus system in France is something she shared with me recently. Here is her e-mail (permission granted by the author)...

Just to brief a little bit on the bus system here.
I've taken pictures but just can't wait to explain everything because I am excited of the bus system as I understand better about the system now.

There are many main stations in between the bus routes. Each station is called 'ligne'. Between stations there are also several stops. There are phamplets available for each ligne to show the details of the ligne (arrival time of the bus at each ligne, the map of the ligne showing the stops between the ligne). I have taken the pictures of the pamplets for ligne 68 and ligne 10.

The time the bus passes each ligne is different between sunday through friday and saturday. Due to traffic in the town. Also depend on seasons. For example, during summer not many buses are available because most people are going for vacations.

The bus use a card system. We can buy a card of 7 euros for 10 trips. Each time you got on the bus, you will insert the card in the machine and the machine will stamp the date on the card. It does not matter how many times you change the stations or stops, as long as you are in the same direction AND you got on the next bus within 45 minutes that will be considered as 1 trip. For example in order for me to get to Capitol (downtown) I have to take the bus from my place to Lespinet Struxiano (ligne 68). Then, I have to take another bus that heads towards the next station that is Etats-Unis Fondeyre (ligne 10); Capitol is a stop between ligne 68 and ligne 10. If I can catch the bus on ligne 10 within 45 minutes, that will be considered as 1 trip.

On the bus, there is a map also, the same map you have on the pamplet. It shows the main stations and the stops. In the bus, in front; just above the passengers seats there is an electronic board (like a small billboard) informing the passengers of the next stop. So, we can always refer to the board and look at the map to ensure own location. There will also be an aural indication informing us of the next stop.

I took all the pictures; the ticket, the ticket machine, the small billboard, the interior of the bus. The only thing that I have not explore is their metro station. I heard we can use the same ticket for the metro and the rules are the same. I will let you know the system and take pictures of the metro soon.

Okey...I hope I have given you a clear information. I am not sure how much the information helps you. Is it something you already know or you haven't know. Just let me know what are other information that you need. I will send the pictures later. So, you might want to keep this email because it may helps you to understand better as soon as yo get the pictures.

Okey, I'm going for my lunch. today is Friday, so there no class in the evening. I'm taking my own sweet time to type the email...By the way, Etats-Unis is United States

Yours,

Ruhaida Abd Rashid


She promised to share a lot more experience of France's public transportation system. Once I've recieve her photos perhaps with her permission I could publish it on this blog.

Kyiv Ukraine

I was in Kyiv, Ukraine in mid of May 2005. The city was clean with lots of open spaces. Beautiful gardens. There are many forms of public transport. Many residents depended on public transportation as their means of commuting.I manage to snap a photo of their tram services (see below). Trams servive is popular among the resident, it is a major form of public transport in the city. However during peak period, I noticed there were also traffic jams...you just cannot win them all !!! 

AUTOMOBILE AND MANKIND

The automobile is one of the wonder creation of modern man. Over the years it is perfected to be an efficient machine. Comfort. Safe...but it also creates problems to mankind...  

TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY & DISABLED

Yesterday I was at MISC, a leading sea transportation company in Malaysia. I was lecturing to a class of executives preparing them for the Chartered Institute Of Logistics and Transportation professional qualification.

We discussed few issues. Among them are transport options for the elderly and the disabled in Malaysia.

Our conclusions are as below:

1. Their mobility is almost zero without begging others to help them

2. Policies to ensure a minimum level of mobility is also absent in Malaysia

3. The public is unaware or are just not interested in their plight

4. The are very few NGOs championing their rights

All of us if we survived long enough will reach the golden years. If we do not actively championed the rights of elderly and disabled to freely move themselves, then one day we will face the same situation.

SUBANG AIRPORT

Over the last few months, Subang Airport is one center of media attraction.

1. Air Asia, Malaysian own low cost carrier wanted the government to make Subang a hub for low cost flights.

2. MIGHT wanted the Government to make Subang the MRO hub. This call was first mooted in 1997.

Finally, the goverment decided to make Subang an MRO hub. And build a new low cost airlines terminal in KLIA Sepang.

Perhaps these decisions are more of a compromise after the bargaining and lobbying by both parties.

What about the travelling public? Are they in the circle when those decisions are made? Who represents them?

... only time will tell if we've made the right choices. The planners who are behind those decisions would know if their planning process has helped to increase the chances of the decision makers making the right decisions.

Rail Transport

Yesterday was my last class on the CILT Transportation Planning module with the KTMB class. Few thoughts came out of my discussion with students who are experts in rail movements on the double tracking project.

The following points that I would like to keep:

1. Rail transport is important for the nation economic development.

2. With fast movement of goods running from Singapore to Padang Besar, Malaysia can be an important land-bridge.

3. The finance mechnism to make the project feasible should involve barter trading as the expected cost runs to double digits RM Billion.

4. The project will change the paradigm of shippers using the straits of malacca.

5. Penang Port will face some downturn as a direct effect of the project. Perhaps it should focus on some other niche

Teaching working adults is a win-win situation.

I teach and I learn...

And the best is I am being paid for it.

Warmest regard to all the KTMB students.

Malaysian Transportation

Goods moved in and out of Malaysia by the following modes:
• Sea
• Air
• Rail
• Road

The ocean vessels carried the most goods. The throughputs at most of the ports were more than 90% of the estimated total volume of goods.

Seaports

The following are the major ports in Malaysia:

• The North Port, Klang, Selangor
• The West Port, Klang, Selangor
• The Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johore
• The Johore Port, Pasir Gudang, Johore
• The Port of Penang, Penang

There are other smaller ports uses by domestic vessels namely:
• The Kuantan Port, Pahang
• The Kemaman Port, Trengganu
• The Kuching Port, Sarawak

There are also specialized ports, like one use for the export of petroleum, in Miri and Bintulu, Sarawak


Airports


Airports are important gateways of Malaysia, from both the passenger and air cargo traffic. Malaysian Airports Berhad (MAB) manages all airports in Malaysia. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is the biggest in the country. It is poised to become an important hub to the South East Asian countries by the year 2005 after the implementation of the regional free trade agreement.

KLIA can handle cargos throughput of 1 million metric ton. The handlings of cargos are at the Advanced Cargo Centre (ACC). MASkargo, a subsidiary company of Malaysia Airlines, operates this centre. Many major world airlines operate regular passenger and air cargo services. They connect KLIA to other world's airports.

Other important airports in Malaysia are as follows:
• The Penang International Airport, Penang
• The Senai Airport, Johore
• The Kuching International Airport, Sarawak
• The Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah

Except for Penang, the other airports act as spokes to KLIA in respect of cargo handling. Where goods are then reroute from KLIA to other world's destination.

Railways

The railways operation have extensive network in Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, a limited services in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The main operator is Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), a government owned company. Their rail networks and services cover all major industrial centres in Peninsular Malaysia. In the Klang Valley the railways uses the electrification and double track technology. There are plans to provide such level of technology to all KTM networks in the future.

The rail services integrate well with other modes to offer Intermodal Transport Operations. From ports, goods moved to various inland terminals by rail. From then trucks are use to sent the goods to the consignee's premises. Even though the goods moved by different modes, they only use one single document.

The railways also act as Land Bridge, moving containers from vessels at various Malaysian ports to ports in Thailand. They provide considerable time saving for goods bound to the East Asian destinations.

Roads and Highways

The highways in Malaysia conformed to international standards. The North South Highway runs from Singapore in the south to Thailand in the north, about 900 km stretch. Goods from seaports & airports move easily to various urban and industrial centres by road. Normally goods are in containers from ports and airports. A point to note is that the container use by air cargo is different from the one use by sea vessels.

There are at this moment about nine major road haulage companies providing container movement services in peninsular Malaysia. Competition among them ensures cheap and efficient services.

For movement of goods, which are less than container loads, smaller trucking companies are available. They provide forwarding services with door-to-door effectiveness.

The road haulage normally moves goods around 200 km radius from the ports. For longer journeys, railways provide cheaper and safer services.