Budget 2023: Only Rail, Bus & Flight Subsidies Announced Under Transportation

The Malaysian government recognizes the importance of transportation infrastructure and services in the latest Budget 2023, particularly for urban communities who rely on rail and bus services to commute to work. To benefit nearly 180,000 users, the government is continuing the My50 monthly pass initiative under Prasarana, and is piloting the myBAS50 Unlimited Travel Pass for the people of Johor Bahru who use the non-stop bus service through the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) Program. Additionally, the government has allocated 150 million ringgit to expand the SBST Program to other cities, including Malacca, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.

The Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) Project, which was initially estimated to cost 68 billion ringgit in 2018, has undergone a procurement process resulting in a revised cost estimate of 50 billion ringgit. The government will review the project to ensure value for money and aims to achieve additional savings of up to 45 billion ringgit. This effort aligns with the government's focus on governance reforms that reduce procurement costs, which can be redistributed for the benefit of the people.

Air travel is crucial for those living in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, and to support this, the government will continue to provide a subsidy of 209 million ringgit for air transport. The government has also constructed wheelchair ramp facilities at seven airports in Sabah and Sarawak to benefit thousands of wheelchair users who rely on MASWings.

However, the much awaited announcement with regards to any subsidies or especially the implementation of the road tax structure come 2025 was not touch, guess that would be in the next 2024 Budget and we sure hope this would not hamper any momentum gained over the last year in EV number and infrastructure growth.