KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 -- The government has allocated RM300 million to continue and expand the implementation of the My30 unlimited travel pass initiative to Penang and Kuantan through Budget 2021 tabled today.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said the initiative would enable commuters to enjoy bus and rail services operated by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) at RM30 per month.

Apart from that, he said an unlimited monthly travel pass priced at RM5 would be introduced for school students from Year One to Form Six.

"They can use this pass for the Klang Valley commuter train service, northern commuter train, intercity-train service between Kuala Lipis and Tumpat as well as the Beaufort-Tenom train line in Sabah.

"Currently, the fare is on average RM 5 a day, so from next year, the fare will only be RM 5 a month," he said when presenting the Budget in Parliament today.

Tengku Zafrul said the bus service transformation programme implemented in Kangar, Seremban, Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu would also be expanded in phases under the Budget.

"This programme will be expanded in phases to Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuantan with an allocation of RM150 million," he said.

He added that the sales tax exemption for locally assembled buses would be extended for a period of two years effective from Jan 1 next year.

On the development of transportation infrastructure, Tengku Zafrul said the government had allocated RM 15 billion to finance the Pan Borneo Highway project, Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Railway project and phase one of the Klang Valley Double-Track project.

"Besides that, several other projects will also be continued such as the Rapid Transit System from Johor Bahru to Woodlands, Singapore, and MRT 3 (Mass Rapid Transit) in the Klang Valley," he said.

Tengku Zafrul said the government had also allocated almost RM3.8 billion for seven transport infrastructure projects such as phase two of the construction of the Klang Third Bridge in Selangor, the Central Spine Road Project in Kelantan and Pahang as well as upgrading bridges across Sungai Marang, Terengganu.

Among other projects under the allocation are the upgrading of the Federal Road connecting Gerik, Perak to Kulim, Kedah; the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway package from Serusop to Pituru; and the Cameron Highlands bypass project in Pahang.

-- BERNAMA