A FEW OF MY HUMBLY PROPOSED SOLUTIONS FOR KTM IF WORTH LISTENING TO.

Quoted from our beloved PM Pak Lah,

“LISTEN – Heed what the people say and correct your mistakes”

"Tell me the truth", I assume that they’ll gladly look into our recommended solutions for better services and improvements if sensible.

Let’s talk about our KTM scenario, good work at first for having such economic commuter service and the gradual improvements I personally see thus far after being a loyal public transport user since secondary school. Specifically I think the commuters are more punctual lately, if not just because my last few encounters were so? Lucky me then?? And another thing worth applause is the mini washrooms I noticed added to a few stations that have no public washrooms.

Problem? Is there any? Well we should have taken notice of the traffic in/ on train and train stations during the peak times. Is anything done to solve the problem? Perhaps it’s not a problem to you. But isn’t a developing nation supposed to develop more effective and efficient services for the public? And have it done ASAP! Cause that’s how we improve! Instead of looking at the LIMITATIONS (hereby the costs, and strictly costs, and being contented with what we now have), look at the POSSIBILITIES! And if you (the governmental officer in charge of KTM engineering plans) are about to be turned off now, (probably suggesting/ presuming that I’m just another demanding-idiot who’s going to rage without the technical know-how’s of train engineering and related matters), think again. Maybe I’m not an engineer, but how many company CEOs are people who are technically-superior or technical-experts in their line of businesses but CREATIVE individuals who are able to THINK OUT OF THE BOX and INSPIRE people to BELIEVE in their visions? And mind you, I am an accounting student, I think about costs and benefits too.

Okay perhaps I have overrated them (the CEOs). And yes, I may not (as yet) be the charismatic leader these company-CEOs handsomely portrayed themselves, but below are just a few (perhaps practical) solutions to the above question. At least we can’t deny that these “nerdy” or “jack-of-no-traits” bunch of thinkers (I don’t mean CEOs here but people like me who has yet worth listening to) did INSPIRE the specialists and experts in related industries to think again and sometimes produce unbelievable things! Well this is what I call the “EXPERT SYNDROME”. When you are too expert in something, you tend to notice too many limitations in the area that eventually might blur your foresight from breaking out of the box (BREAKTHROUGH) and bringing the unlikely ALIVE!

1. Add extra cabins. Cabins with LOWER COSTS. Perhaps open air cabins. Empty cabins with no seats but all stands with arm-rests. Perhaps you can consider demolishing some current cabins and replace them without seats but arm-rests to cut costs and add capacity. (I’m sure most people wouldn’t mind because the crucial thing is transportation and convenience, NOT comfort or “luxury”, taking into consideration the ticket fare users are paying. It’s cheap, what more do you expect?! That’s what we call no-frills benefits! So get off your asses for senior citizens and the needy ones! That’s the RIGHT set of MALAYSIAN attitudes! Not just “Malaysia BOLEH” nonstop when we are all lackadaisical!)

2. Equip KTM stations with state-of-the-art sophisticated time and traffic tracking system, if you have the budget. Look into the long term, if more people cater KTM service, that means more traffic, more income also from ADVERTISERS, business people (they might move their businesses near your stations instead of just you having to plan around them thanks to the crowd you encouraged to come by catering your service!) and thus more expansion prospects!

3. Introduce KTM member cards for loyal customers. I noticed you have fast-track cards now. Including say benefits of card members to enter air-conditioned cabins as opposed to open-aired cabins during peak periods. As for the price for it, I don’t think higher charges is necessary because train service is in the logistics industry whereby your costs are mostly fixed costs, so as long as people are willing to buy/ pay everyday tickets, you should be happy about that. (Beware if you charge more, you might stir rage amongst the lower income group, and I’m definitely with them against you then because that means DISCRIMINATION against the poor! Lol! =P) details of your member benefits I’ll leave to your office talents to brainstorm and make us proud, I’m sure government officers are more than capable to come up with brilliant ideas and do amazing stuffs! (I’m just a nobody.)

4. Inspired by my text book reading on allocating capacity by attempting to change demands for fixed-capacity businesses by either reservations or appointments. (Well if AirASIA can make it, why can’t KTM?) I think we can change demand of frequent travelers by promising them punctual train arrivals and departures, more capacity through added cabins or trains (well I don’t know if you can add more trains, cause that’s a little technically-challenging for me and I don’t want to ‘try to be too smart’ courtesy of my dad’s remarks on me many times =P), and the KTM member card benefits! How can that be possible? Think. What if you can arrange that nonmembers depart during hours from 6am-7.30am for morning office rides whereas members get to have the privilege of taking later trains that can promise on time arrivals. First-come-first-serve basis for getting limited member cards if seats limited of course. So they have the benefit of getting up later but ending up effectively on time! That’s just one of the suggestions. The rest again I’ll leave them to your office to impress us, the public!

Okay for now. More business ideas and problem solving ideas next round same column.

I’m chris, and thanks for reviewing, do share your comments with me through email, I’m sure critics will be invaluable to everyone’s learning.

Ps: please don’t criticize too mercilessly okay? Cause everyone needs positive encouragements to improve and possibly do wonders in the future, right? And please be professional at your critics, please don’t be personal. Thanks. =P

Christopher Shee (chrisshee@yahoo.com)