The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has instructed Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to provide its services for free to child cancer patients and their caregivers. Moreover, its Minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook also announced that the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) through Malaysia Airlines has agreed to donate free flights to child cancer patients, especially from East Malaysia to get treatment in Kuala Lumpur.
According to BERNAMA, the request to KTMB was meant to facilitate the travel of cancer patients and caregivers, especially those in Peninsular Malaysia who need to receive treatment in the capital. Speaking to reporters after launching the Childhood Cancer Support (CANSupport) programme in Kuala Lumpur today, Loke asserted,
“I understand that many people need to come to Kuala Lumpur to get treatment…in the peninsula, we (MOT) can offer a (free) train service and I have asked MOT secretary-general to follow up with KTMB on this matter.
“In terms of mechanism, MOT can have a form of arrangement with KTMB and that is something we can implement,” he added.
The CANSupport application is a collaboration between Tata Consultancy Services Malaysia with MAG and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM). The Transport Minister further elaborated that his ministry and KTMB need to find a method of integration between the CANSupport and KTMB mobile applications for the ease of users.
He added that through the integration, patients and their caregivers can book a ticket through the application when they come for treatment. The mechanism needs to be further refined so that aid can be distributed easily.
Besides that, Loke also welcomed e-hailing and taxi service providers to support the initiative. These include offering the same service to the parties involved.
So, what do you guys think of this initiative by MOT? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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