By Sharen Kaur
sharen@nstp.com.my
Published in NST on December 10, 2012
KTM Bhd (KTMB) says the five-year business plan that it presented to the government recently is aimed at turning around the loss-making company into a profitable entity.
KTMB president Datuk Elias Kadir said the business plan includes improvements to the commuter train's delivery time and operational efficiency.
"The government is looking at the plan, which aims to improve the overall performance of KTMB's operations. We want to make our customers happy by providing efficient and reliable services.
"We need to improve the commuter services. We are struggling but are also definitely moving forward. We have great people who have been with KTMB for more than 10 years and they are working tirelessly to improve the company," Elias said at a briefing on the company's plan recently.
KTMB has been recording losses since it was corporatised in 1992 due to high operating costs. Nevertheless, it did make a net profit of RM9 million to RM15 million from 1993 to 1995, before falling into the red in the following years.
According to the Auditor-General's report tabled in Parliament in October, KTMB registered losses amounting to RM118.91 million in 2008 and RM82.81 million in 2007.
The report also stated that from 1994 to 2008, KTMB had sought government help in the form of cash fund injections totalling RM760 million.
Elias said KTMB is currently registering losses of up to RM220 million per annum, including RM60 million from the cargo business, which also happens to be its biggest revenue generator.
"Our biggest challenge is punctuality of the train services. Even if KTMB is making losses, it has to provide good services."
Elias took over as KTMB president in May and since then, the punctuality rate has improved from 17 per cent to 86 per cent.
The improvement was made possible with the cooperation of key KTMB officials and its non-executive staff, helped by the new six-car train sets purchased from China.
Elias said more than three million people use the KTM commuter services each month, adding that he expects the number to increase when the mass rapid transit (MRT) and light rail transit (LRT) line extension projects in the Klang Valley are completed.
"The proposed high-speed rail and the double tracking projects will also contribute to passenger growth as connectivity strengthens. KTMB, going forward, is going to be something else," Elias said.
Besides cargo and KTM commuter services, the company generates income through inter-city railway service and ocean shipping, road haulage and port clearance services.
sharen@nstp.com.my
Published in NST on December 10, 2012
KTM Bhd (KTMB) says the five-year business plan that it presented to the government recently is aimed at turning around the loss-making company into a profitable entity.
KTMB president Datuk Elias Kadir said the business plan includes improvements to the commuter train's delivery time and operational efficiency.
"The government is looking at the plan, which aims to improve the overall performance of KTMB's operations. We want to make our customers happy by providing efficient and reliable services.
"We need to improve the commuter services. We are struggling but are also definitely moving forward. We have great people who have been with KTMB for more than 10 years and they are working tirelessly to improve the company," Elias said at a briefing on the company's plan recently.
KTMB has been recording losses since it was corporatised in 1992 due to high operating costs. Nevertheless, it did make a net profit of RM9 million to RM15 million from 1993 to 1995, before falling into the red in the following years.
According to the Auditor-General's report tabled in Parliament in October, KTMB registered losses amounting to RM118.91 million in 2008 and RM82.81 million in 2007.
The report also stated that from 1994 to 2008, KTMB had sought government help in the form of cash fund injections totalling RM760 million.
Elias said KTMB is currently registering losses of up to RM220 million per annum, including RM60 million from the cargo business, which also happens to be its biggest revenue generator.
"Our biggest challenge is punctuality of the train services. Even if KTMB is making losses, it has to provide good services."
Elias took over as KTMB president in May and since then, the punctuality rate has improved from 17 per cent to 86 per cent.
The improvement was made possible with the cooperation of key KTMB officials and its non-executive staff, helped by the new six-car train sets purchased from China.
Elias said more than three million people use the KTM commuter services each month, adding that he expects the number to increase when the mass rapid transit (MRT) and light rail transit (LRT) line extension projects in the Klang Valley are completed.
"The proposed high-speed rail and the double tracking projects will also contribute to passenger growth as connectivity strengthens. KTMB, going forward, is going to be something else," Elias said.
Besides cargo and KTM commuter services, the company generates income through inter-city railway service and ocean shipping, road haulage and port clearance services.
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