PENANG: The state government should be given the same power as the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) to enable it to operate public bus services efficiently.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this was necessary if the state was to have full control over the bus services.

They included decision on bus routes, enforcement and the issuance of permits, he said.

He cited an example where existing bus operators had no control over drivers who refused to stick to designated routes.

“The bus services in the state will not improve unless there is a change in policy,” he said after attending a prize presentation ceremony of a state-level public speaking competition in Komtar yesterday.

He said CVLB could not handle the public transport services in every city unless it increased its manpower.

Dr Koh said the restructuring of bus routing alone was not sufficient, adding that the state needed changes that were more drastic.

On the RM50mil loan from the federal government to improve the bus services in the state, Dr Koh said:

“We are discussing with the federal government on the conversion of the loan into a grant. This is to ensure that we do not have long-term financial burden.”

He added that the state hoped to secure a zero-inte-rest loan.