LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY (Rationale for publicity campaigns)

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Communications what is the rationale for the Land Transport Authority spending $3 million on publicity campaigns.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the publicity campaign launched in July this year is to promote greater use of public transport. Getting more people to use public transport is key to having smooth flowing roads. Over the years, our public transport has improved significantly. We need to raise awareness of this and improve the image of public transport so that more people are encouraged and persuaded to use it. The publicity campaign is a joint effort between the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and all public transport operators.

Car companies spend a great deal of time, money and effort packaging their cars as a superior class of transport and as status symbols. Public transport operators must not only strive to continuously improve their service but also market the improvements made. They must offer public transport as a viable transport alternative, otherwise the public will increasingly believe that cars are the only means of convenient and comfortable travel.

With higher ridership, bus operators can operate more direct bus routes, and the Government can justify the expansion of the MRT and LRT network. If the campaign succeeds in persuading more people to use public transport, we will be able to build a better public transport system for Singaporeans. The $3 million will be more than worth it.