Loke: Public transport agencies and companies should be headed by professionals, not politicians

PETALING JAYA, June 5 — The government should maintain its practice of appointing experts and professionals — not politicians — to lead public transport agencies and companies, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He emphasised that having experienced and qualified individuals at the helm is essential to ensuring a more professional and transparent administration, free from political interference.

“My position is clear — public transport operators should not have politically appointed leaders. They must be run by professionals,” he said during the Malaysia Madani Intellectual Forum Series 6 at Menara Prasarana yesterday.

Loke pointed to Prasarana Malaysia Berhad as a prime example, noting that the company has achieved better performance and service delivery under professional leadership.

The forum, themed “Transport for the People: Balancing Affordability, Quality, and Sustainability of Public Transport”, was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Other panellists included Prasarana Group President and CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah, and Universiti Putra Malaysia Vice-Chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.

Loke attributed the improved performance of Malaysia’s public transport system to ongoing upgrades of trains and infrastructure, guided by competent and experienced management.

He also acknowledged that while Singapore is often held up as a model for public transport, it still grapples with technical challenges.

Meanwhile, Mohd Azharuddin said Prasarana is seeing positive momentum in passenger ridership, operational reliability, and station facilities.

“Our ridership dropped significantly during the pandemic, but efforts over the past few years have reversed the trend,” he said. “In 2022, daily ridership stood at around 681,000. Today, in 2025, that number has surged to approximately 1.31 million.” — Bernama