KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 9): The country’s transportation sector is facing a heap of challenges these days, especially the aviation sector.

First, it was the termination of the contract to build the aerotrain system at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) that calls into question Malaysia’s ability to develop a 1.5km people mover between air terminals.

Then, Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) faced brickbats from its passengers after it bungled up national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd's in-flight catering services, following the termination of the service contract with Brahim’s Food Services Sdn Bhd.

And of course, there is the perennial traffic congestion in major cities, especially in Klang Valley, due to the inadequacies and inefficiencies of the public transport network in the country. Meanwhile, many of the country’s airports need upgrading, and the government does not have sufficient means to fund them all.

If these challenges are not enough to cause Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook sleepless nights, there is the uneasy partnership between the Democratic Action Party (DAP), of which he is the secretary general, with its former rival Umno.

And then, there are also his responsibilities as the elected representative in Negeri Sembilan. His state seat, Chennah, is located about one hour away from the state’s capital Seremban, where Loke is also the Member of Parliament.

While the political situation is still challenging, especially after the Attorney General's Chambers decided to drop its case against Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for 47 corruption charges involving funds at Yayasan Akalbudi, as well as the outcome of the recent six state elections, which showed that the majority of Malay voters had deserted the PH-BN coalition, Loke is not yet ready to throw in the towel.

For him, his work at the Transport Ministry will be the key avenue to improve the economic situation of the people, and try to convince them that the unity government can work for their interests.  

“By improving the economic situation, we hope that we can convince Malaysians, particularly the Malay community, to support this unity government in the next election. Right now, we have breathing space for about four years.

“So, for the next four years, our mission is to improve the economy. If the economic situation does not improve, then we will face a very strong challenge in the next general election. We are very clear about that,” says Loke in an exclusive interview with The Edge.

It is not merely economic growth that the government is looking for, but growth that leads to a better livelihood for the rakyat, especially for the majority.

Can he deliver, and is time on his side?

Read the interview in this issue of The Edge.

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