POLICY
INGENIEUR
National Transport Policy 2019-2030
By Lee Soo Leng
The National Transport Policy 2019-2030
( NTP ) was launched in October 2019 . It was developed with the following objectives :
1 . Create a conducive ecosystem for the transport industry to enhance productivity and competitiveness
2 . Facilitate seamless movement of goods to boost trading activities and the ease of doing business
3 . Provide mobility that meets the expectations of people and promotes inclusivity 4 . Increase modal share for public transport 5 . Deliver an intelligent , safe and secure transport system
6 . Ensure efficient and sustainable use of resources and minimise environmental pollution
There is also a need for an overarching national transport policy roadmap to :
● Provide strategic direction and act as a reference point for Ministries and agencies in their planning towards developing an efficient , integrated and sustainable transport system ;
● Consolidate and streamline initiatives and efforts towards common objectives and goals , contributing to efficient use of resources ; and
● Address the bottlenecks that hamper the growth of the transport sector , so as to stimulate domestic growth and a regional footprint .
FIVE POLICY THRUSTS
The NTP emphasises sustainability as the cornerstone and spells out five policy thrusts as follows :
POLICY THRUST 1 : Strengthen governance to create a conducive environment for the transport sector . a . Strengthen co-ordination among agencies and industry players b . Enhance skills development in the transport sector and make the sector an attractive career option c . Strengthen and streamline the regulatory framework d . Embed a robust evidence-based assessment in the planning and development of the transport sector to meet the market demands e . Improve the efficiency of the clearance process by agencies for logistics
POLICY THRUST 2 : Optimise , build and maintain the use of transport infrastructure , services and networks to maximise efficiency a . Implement smarter and more efficient use of existing infrastructure and develop new infrastructure b . Increase the utilisation of rail services for passengers and goods c . Upgrade hinterland connectivity to gateways and connect corridors for improved economic distribution d . Reinforce the maintenance regime of the transport infrastructure e . Enhance competitiveness in air cargo operation to support Malaysia ’ s goal in becoming a regional distribution centre f . Modernise integrated logistics to reduce the cost of doing business
POLICY THRUST 3 : Enhance safety , integration , connectivity and accessibility for seamless journey for passengers and goods a . Strengthen enforcement to ensure adherence to rules and regulations to improve safety , service quality and reliability b . Adopt a safe system approach that advocates safer road , rail , maritime and
72 VOL 83 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020