Members of the Yangon Region parliament spoke out yesterday against the failings of the Yangon Bus Service (YBS), saying the service is badly managed and lacks financial transparency.
“In the 50 days after the bus system was launched, five people have been killed [by buses],” said MP Kyaw Zeya from Dagon Township, Constituency-2. He also pointed out that no laws are in place to penalize employees who violate YBS rules, to respond to complaints filed by bus owners, or to mediate disputes within the system.
“When two YBS buses collided, the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) was unable to mediate the dispute. The road was blocked for half an hour,” the MP said, adding that YBS crew members are also known to be unprofessional and untrained.
MP Kyi Pyar from Kyauktada Township, Constituency-1, said during the discussion: “The system has more weaknesses than strengths. The planning of the new system should have included consultations with all the stakeholders. The public was only notified of the rollout a week before it happened, so many people found it very inconvenient.”
“Those who actually take buses should participate in policy-making for the bus system,” MP Kyi Pyar said.
MPs also took issue with the confusing financial structure of the YBS.
“For the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Yangon Region government requested a budget of K75 billion to invest in the new bus system. The chief minister said at a press conference that K60 billion would go toward buying new buses. Newspapers then reported that a public company was established on January 10 to run the bus system. The regional government holds a 51 percent stake in the company,” MP Kyi Pyar said.
“The movement of public money being used for the bus system should be transparent,” the MP said.
MP Nay Hpone Latt said the YBS poorly planned, and the system urgently needs improvement.
“The YBS is like an unfinished painting. The system is not complete. It needs to be planned better. Future services, like the water taxi system that will also be implemented by the YRTA, should be transparent to the public,” MP Kyaw Zeya said.
Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein, who chairs the YRTA, was absent from the discussion.
On April 5, MP Wai Phyo Han from Insein Township, Constituency-2, submitted a proposal to the regional parliament asking Phyo Min Thein’s government to explain how the YBS will be improved.
The government is expected to respond to the proposal on April 27.
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