Non-Malaysian residents should also be entitled to the unlimited Monthly Pass

Press Statement by Agora Society on 8 November 2018

The Agora Society welcomes the Pakatan Harapan government’s announcement in the recent Budget that unlimited monthly travel passes will be made available to commuters in January 2019. This represents a right step towards encouraging a greater use of public transport in the Klang Valley and reducing the cost of living of the lower income groups.

We are, however, dismayed by the statement of Anthony Loke, the Transport Minister, that the two versions of the Monthly Pass, one costing RM100 to be used on all Rapid Rail and bus services and the other for Rapid bus services only at RM50, are limited to Malaysian citizens only. The decision practically excludes a large number of non-Malaysians who have been making significant contribution to the Malaysian economy.

Migrant workers, for one, would stand to lose as compared to Malaysians despite that the Malaysian economy has benefited tremendously from migrant labour. In an October 2017 report Migrating to Opportunity, the World Bank stated that a 10% net increase in low-skilled migrant workers raised Malaysia’s real GDP by 1.1%, and cheaper migrant workers helped lower production costs which resulted in more output and created more employment.