Transport Minister Anthony Loke launched Penang’s first 15 electric buses on October 17, 2026, targeting a 75-vehicle fleet by March 2027. Amid calls to restrict foreigners from public transit following social media complaints, Loke dismissed a blanket ban as impossible while announcing broader procurements and stricter cable-theft penalties.
Penang Deploys First Electric Buses on Narrow Island Routes
Rapid Penang rolled out its initial 15 electric buses on October 17, 2026, at the Weld Quay Depot in George Town, marking the first phase of a broader fleet transition. Transport Minister Anthony Loke inspected the newly installed charging infrastructure at the depot and confirmed that deliveries will continue monthly to complete the 75-bus fleet by March next year. Also present at the launch was Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nasir Ahmad.
The initial deployment consists of 14 compact 8.25-metre vehicles and one 12-metre bus.
Fleet operator Rapid Bus received 52 electric vehicles as of October 13 across both regions, with 37 assigned to Rapid KL and 15 to Rapid Penang. The broader procurement involves a RM200 million investment covering 250 electric buses under the initial phase, split into 175 for Rapid KL and 75 for Rapid Penang.
On the sidelines of the Penang depot launch, Loke addressed mounting public pressure from social media users on Threads who demanded exclusions for foreign passengers. The online complaints followed an incident where a refugee child allegedly urinated on the ground before boarding a Rapid KL bus, prompting calls for drivers to bar foreigners.
We are not an isolated country. How can we prohibit foreigners from taking the bus? That is an impossible proposal.
Loke maintained that enforcement should target individual misconduct rather than a passenger’s nationality. He noted that bus operators can report disruptive individuals to the authorities, and that auxiliary police maintain a presence across the rail and station network to arrest anyone disturbing public order.
Prasarana Expands Low-Carbon Fleet and Tightens Rail Security
The transition aligns with the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the National Transport Policy 2019-2030.
A second tranche will add another 100 charging units across six depots, including two in Penang, for the second stage of the project.
Beyond bus rollouts, Loke announced that the Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Home Ministry to amend existing laws and impose heavier penalties on cable thieves following a recent disruption on the MRT Kajang Line. The proposed legal changes would increase prison terms and fines, though policy discussions remain ongoing. An attempted cable theft between the Phileo Damansara and Pusat Bandar Damansara stations disrupted MRT services on the line yesterday morning.
Pedestrian Safety Warnings Accompany Quiet Electric Engines
While praising the environmental benefits of zero-emission public transit, Loke highlighted a potential safety concern: silent electric engines.
The newly deployed buses feature an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System designed to emit external warning sounds at low speeds. Additionally, the vehicles are equipped with an Advanced Driver Assistance System to assist bus captains. However, Loke urged local government authorities, city councils, and urban planners to incorporate the quieter engines into future pedestrian safety and traffic management planning.