SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION FUTURE

Sustainable transport refers to the broad subject of transport that is or approaches being sustainable. It includes vehicles, energy, infrastructure, roads, railways, airways,waterways, canals,pipelines, and terminals. Transport operations and logistics as well as transit-oriented development are involved. Transportation sustainability is largely being measured by transportation system effectiveness and efficiency as well as the environmental impacts of the system.

Sustainable transport systems make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve. Transport systems exist to provide social and economic connections, and people quickly take up the opportunities offered by increased mobility.The advantages of increased mobility need to be weighed against the environmental, social and economic costs that transport systems pose.

Green Vehicle

Example of sustainable transport is Green Vehicle.A green vehicle or environmentally friendly vehicle is a road motor vehiclethat produces less harmful impacts to the environment than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles running on gasoline or diesel, or one that uses certain alternative fuels.Green vehicles can be powered by alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies and include hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,battery electric vehicles, compressed-air vehicles, hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles,neat ethanol vehicles, flexible-fuel vehicle,natural gas vehicles, clean dieselvehicles, and some sources also include vehicles using blends of biodiesel andethanol fuel or gasohol.Several author also include conventional motor vehicles with high fuel economy, as they consider that increasing fuel economy is the most cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector in the short run. As part of their contribution to sustainable transport, these vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to energy independence by reducing oil imports.

Environmental Sustainability

Healthy ecosystems provide vital goods and services to humans and other organisms. There are two major ways of reducing negative human impact and enhancing ecosystem services and the first of these is environmental management. This direct approach is based largely on information gained from earth science, environmental science and conservation biology. However, this is management at the end of a long series of indirect causal factors that are initiated by human consumption, so a second approach is through demand management of human resource use.

Management of human consumption of resources is an indirect approach based largely on information gained from economics. Herman Daly has suggested three broad criteria for ecological sustainability: renewable resources should provide a sustainable yield (the rate of harvest should not exceed the rate of regeneration); for non-renewable resources there should be equivalent development of renewable substitutes; waste generation should not exceed the assimilative capacity of the environment

Social Equity

There are multiple definitions of social equity as it is a new term; each industry has seemed to take on a different connotation. The following provides for examples of each connotation. Social Equity is the least defined and least understood element of the triad that is Sustainable Development yet is integral in creating sustainability - balancing economic, environmental and social equity. Vital communities meet the needs of all of their citizens.They provide good schools, affordable housing, and the basic services that enable even the least affluent to live comfortably.A healthy society fosters a wide sense of individual responsibility for the community.

Economy Sustainability

Economic sustainability is the term used to identify various strategies that make it possible to use available resources to their best advantage. The idea is to promote the use of those resources in a way that is both efficient and responsible, and likely to provide long-term benefits. In the case of a business operation, it calls for using resources so that the business continues to function over a number of years, while consistently returning a profit.

In most scenarios, the measure of economic sustainability is presented in monetary terms. The worth of assets and resources in dollar figures is common, as is identifying the amount of return generated by the efficient use of those resources. The idea is to aid in identifying areas of the operation in which resources are not being utilized in the most efficient manner, and take the steps to correct the situation. At the same time, the proposed changes to the operation are considered in terms of their overall effect on the production flow, making it possible to address any potential difficulties later in the process before the changes are actually implemented. Doing so means engaging in a strategy known as cross-sectoral coordination, which involves identifying what impact changes in one area of the operation will have on subsequent phases of the production process.

Strength and Weakness of AirAsia

Low Distribution Costs: Utilization of Information Technology (IT)

Strengths

Being the first airline in Southeast Asia to utilize e-ticketing and bypass traditional travel agents, AirAsia saved on the cost of issuing physical ticket at US$10 per ticket, eliminating the need for large and expensive booking/reservation systems, and agents’ commissions. In 2004, AirAsia’s website was voted the most popular site for online shopping in Malaysia, internet bookings increased from 5% of all bookings in 2002, to approximately 50% in 2004. AirAsia subsequently made its tickets available via post offices and designated bank teller (ATM) machines, increasing accessibility to consumers while having lower distribution costs, gaining more market share in the process.

Weaknesses

With its reliance on IT, there is a risk of system disruption due to AirAsia’s heavily reliance on online sales: any flight delays or calling their customer line to confirm bookings would indicate that AirAsia’s system is not robust enough to handle booking efficiently. This would result in the loss of customers, as confidence and satisfaction levels drop, affecting profitability. Hence, AirAsia would have to constantly invest in technological equipment's, and connections to sustain and serve its huge network of company subsidiaries and affiliates where appropriate incurring the high costs.

Flat organizational structure and effective staff policies

Strengths

A high portion of AirAsia costs was the salaries and benefits for its employees. Hence, the airline implemented flexible work rules, streamlining administrative functions which allowed employees to perform multiple roles within a simple and flat organizational structure. In AirAsia’s case, a flatter hierarchy improved communication, resulting in an effective and focused workforce.

AirAsia’s rumination policy focused on maximizing efficiency and productivity, whilst keeping staff costs at levels consistent with low-cost carrier industry standards. Although salaries offered to employees were below that of rivals, all employees were offered a wide range of incentives such as productivity and performance-based bonuses, share offers, and stock options. This motivated employees, giving them a sense of ownership.

Weaknesses

However, although AirAsia streamlined administrative functions allowed employees to perform multiple roles within a simple and flat organizational structure, it may compromise AirAsia’s productivity in the future. For example, in order to upkeep the constant implementation of Internet bookings and distributors, AirAsia would require a substantial number of specialized technical professionals. Performing multiple roles may lower the efficiency and effectiveness of such employees. Also, as AirAsia expands, its simple and flat organizational structure could result shallow decision-making; affecting the airline’s productivity.

Therefore, this capability is a short-term sustainable competitive advantage as AirAsia expands, with overdependence on key staff and possible shallow decision-making. To maintain this competitive advantage, AirAsia would have to constantly improves and restructure itself to stay competitive and relevant.

Drive Less , Save More !

After discuss with the group members, we find out the effect of the 'Drive Less , Save More'.

Firstly, Drive Less can save our environment by reducing the flow out of carbon monoxide came out for the car and prevent ozone layer become thin and effect the green house. Next is carpooling. Carpooling saves money and reduces congestion on our roads and highways. It also gives you the opportunity to develop new friendships with co-workers or other commuters. There are a number of benefits when two or more people share a ride in one vehicle.

 Benefits of carpooling:

• Carpooling can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year as it reduces the costs involved in repetitive or long-distance driving.

• It reduces the stress of your commute and allows you to read, relax, or even work while commuting.

• Carpooling enables some families to cut back to one car or to do without a car at all.

• If you don’t have a car or don’t drive, carpooling allows you to consider jobs throughout the area.

• Carpooling can provide you with new friendships and company for your commute.

• Carpooling reduces air pollution and traffic congestion, something that benefits all of us!

• Carpooling helps to combat rising traffic congestion, by filling the extra seats in your car, there are fewer drivers, and therefore fewer cars crowding the roads.

  If you want to help reduce global warming, let alone air pollution, one of the best things you can do is to get out of your car.Walk or ride a bicycle for short trips, or take public transportation for longer ones. Either way, you will significantly reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions you generate each day. 


Added Benefits of Public Transportation
Consider these other benefits of public transportation:

• Energy independence—According to Treehugger.com, if just one in 10 Americans used public transportation daily, U.S. reliance on foreign oil would decrease 40 percent.
• Safety—Riding a bus is 79 times safer than riding in an automobile, and riding a train or subway is even safer.
• Health—Studies have shown that people who use public transportation regularly tend to be healthier than people who don’t, because of the exercise they get walking to and from bus stops, subway stations and their homes and offices.
• Cost savings—According to an APTA study, families that use public transportation can reduce their household expenses by RM6,200 annually, more than the average Malaysia. household spends on food every year. 

Next is ECO-DRIVING. It can improves road safety as well as the quality of the local and global environment and saves fuel and costs. All three benefits are important for furthering ECO-DRIVING. Different benefits facilitate bringing ECO-DRIVING to different stakeholders and policy fields and their activities.

Additionally ECO-DRIVING provides direct benefits to the drivers and the passengers: More comfort and a relaxed atmosphere.
ECO-DRIVING trainings lead to consumption reduction up to 20% directly after training and about 5% in the long run. The European Climate Change Programme calculated a reduction potential of ECO-DRIVING of at least 50 million tons of CO2-emissions in Europe by 2010, saving about 20 billion EUROS.

In the year 2000, ECO-DRIVING trainings in the Austrian bus company NIGGBUS reduced fuel consumption by 5% in day-to-day driving. The effect increased up to 7% in the year 2001.

ECO-DRIVING reduces noise pollution as well as local air pollution. The engine noise of one car driving with 4000 rpm (revolutions per minute) equals the engine noise of 32 cars at 2000 rpm. Thus, ECO-DRIVING reduces one of the main problems of traffic in urban areas.



One vehicle travelling with 4000 rpm produces the same amount of noise as 32 vehicles travelling at the same speed with only 2000 rpm.


ECO-DRIVING reduces not only fuel costs, but also costs for maintenance and costs for repairing cars after accidents. The safer driving behavior results from:

• An anticipating driving style
• Maintaining a steady speed
• Less speeding
• Less overtaking
• Less stress/aggressiveness

Eleven month after ECO-DRIVING trainings, the German company HAMBURGER WASSERWERKE effected fuel consumption reductions of more than 6%, accidents and related costs could be deminished by more than 25%.
ECO-DRIVING programmes prove to be very cost-effective. The Dutch ECO-DRIVING programme results in a cost-effectiveness of about 5 EURO per avoided ton of CO2-emissions over a period of 10 years.
CANON COMPANY in Switzerland trained the ECO-DRIVING style with 350 service car drivers in VSZ VELTHEIM. The drivers reduced fuel consumption by 6.1%, had 22% more km per accident and 35% less accidents in total.

Free Trade Zone

 FREE TRADE ZONE

A free trade zone (FTZ), also called foreign-trade zone, formerly free port, is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities. This is not to be confused with an "Export Processing Zone" (EPZ) which is actually a type of free trade zone (FTZ), set up generally in developing countries by their governments to promote industrial and commercial exports. Only when the goods are moved to consumers within the country in which the zone is located do they become subject to the prevailing customs duties. Free-trade zones are organized around major seaports, international airports, and national frontiers—areas with many geographic advantages for trade. It is a region where a group of countries has agreed to reduce or eliminate trade barriers. Free trade zones can be defined as labor-intensive manufacturing centers that involve the import of raw materials or components and the export of factory products. The world's first Free Trade Zone was established in Shannon, Ireland (Shannon Free Zone). This was an attempt by the Irish Government to promote employment within a rural area, make use of a small regional airport and generate revenue for the Irish economy. It was hugely successful, and is still in operation today. The number of worldwide free-trade zones proliferated in the late 20th century. In the United States free-trade zones were first authorized in 1934.

Most FTZs located in developing countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, El Salvador, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala,Kenya, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Madagascar have EPZ programs. In 1997, 93 countries had set up export processing zones employing 22.5 million people, and five years later, in 2003, EPZs in 116 countries employed 43 million people.

Corporations setting up in a zone may be given tax breaks as an incentive. Usually, these zones are set up in underdeveloped parts of the host country; the rationale is that the zones will attract employers and thus reduce poverty and unemployment, and stimulate the area's economy. These zones are often used by multinational corporations to set up factories to produce goods (such as clothing or shoes).

Free trade zones in Latin America date back to the early decades of the 20th century. The first free trade regulations in this region were enacted in Argentina and Uruguay in the 1920s. The Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA) was created in the 1960 Treaty of Montevideo by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. However, the rapid development of free trade zones across the region dates from the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Latin American Integration Association is a Latin American trade integration association, based in Montevideo.

Free Trade Zones are also known as Special Economic Zones in some countries. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been established in many countries as testing grounds for the implementation of liberal market economy principles. SEZs are viewed as instruments to enhance the acceptability and the credibility of the transformation policies and to attract domestic and foreign investment.

In 1999, there were 43 million people working in about 3000 FTZs spanning 116 countries producing clothes, shoes, sneakers, electronics, and toys. The basic objectives of EPZs are to enhance foreign exchange earnings, develop export-oriented industries and to generate employment opportunities.

Many in the economic development community and real estate development field have heard much about how the Foreign-Trade Zone program attracts firms of all types to FTZ designated industrial parks and property. Many Foreign-Trade Zone projects have been started with the philosophy of “establish it, and they will come”. The reality is that for FTZ Grantees to receive the economic development benefits they desire, the right choices in many areas must be made. The Foreign-Trade Zone Corporation will guide Grantees and developers so that the best choices are made so that the FTZ project maximizes its potential by attracting prospective companies as well as providing an avenue to providing the maximum benefit to existing companies in the area. One choice that Grantees are faced with is whether or not to expand a Foreign-Trade Zone or reorganize it using the Alternative Site Framework (ASF).

In January 2009, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board adopted a FTZ Board staff proposal to make what it called the Alternative Site Framework (ASF) as a means of designating and managing general-purpose FTZ sites through reorganization. The ASF provides Foreign-Trade Zone Grantees with greater flexibility to meet specific requests for zone status by utilizing the minor boundary modification process. The theory of the ASF is that by more closely linking the amount of FTZ designated space to the amount of space activated with Customs and Border Protection, Zone users would have better and quicker access to benefits. When a FTZ Grantee evaluates whether or not to expand its FTZ project in order to improve the ease in which the Zone may be utilized by existing companies, as well as how it attracts new prospective companies, the Alternative Site Framework (ASF) should be considered. The ASF may be an appropriate option for certain Foreign-Trade Zone projects, but the decision of whether to adopt the new framework and what the configuration of the sites should be will require careful analysis and planning. Regardless of the choice to expand the FTZ project, the sites should be selected and the application should be drafted in such a manner as to receive swift approval, while maximizing benefit to those that locate in the Zone. Successful zone projects are generally the result of a plan developed and implemented by individuals that understand all aspects of the FTZ program.

The Foreign Trade Zone Board (FTZB) approves the reorganization of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 32 under the alternative site framework. The application submitted by its grantee, The Greater Miami Foreign Trade Zone was approved and officially ordered by the FTZB on January 8, 2013. From California, to Oklahoma to North Carolina to New York State, FTZs all across the nation have recently been making use of the flexible opportunities offered by the Alternative Site Framework (ASF) program. The ASF program is designed to serve zone projects that want the flexibility to both attract users/operators to certain fixed sites but also want the ability to serve companies at other locations where the demand for FTZ services arises in the future. FTZ 32 was founded in 1979 and processes over $1 billion in goods with products from more than 65 countries and exported to more than 75 countries worldwide, with speed and efficiency. According to the official order from the FTZB, FTZ 32 existing site 1, Miami Free Zone will be classified as a magnet site.

Free Trade Zone in Malaysia

1.    Melaka Batu Berendam FTZ (Texas Instrument, Dominant Semiconductor, Panasonic) The largest and still more vacancy refer to MITI for application.

2.    Sungai Way FTZ (Western Digital, Free Scale, etc.)

3.    Hulu Klang FTZ (Statchippac, Texas Instrument)

4.    Teluk Panglima Garang FTZ (Toshiba, etc.)

TRANSPORTATION IN MALAYSIA

 TRANSPORTATION IN MALAYSIA

Transport in Malaysia started to develop during British colonial rule, and the country's transport network is now diverse and developed. Malaysia's road network is extensive, covering 63,445 km, including 1,630 km of expressways. The main highway of the country extends over 800 km, reaching the Thai border from Singapore. The network of roads in Peninsular Malaysia is of high quality, whilst the road system in East Malaysia is not as well developed. The main modes of transport in Peninsular Malaysia include buses, trains, cars and to an extent, airplanes.

Malaysia has six international airports. The official airline of Malaysia is Malaysia Airlines, providing international and domestic air service alongside two other carriers. Most of the major cities are connected by air routes. The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1798 km, in Peninsula Malaysia only. Popular within the cities is Light Rail Transit, which reduces the traffic load on other systems, and is considered safe, comfortable and reliable

Land

Malaysia's road network covers 98,721 kilometres (61,342 mi), of which 80,280 kilometres (49,884 mi) is paved, and 1,821 kilometres (1,132 mi) is expressways.The longest highway of the country, the North-South Expressway, extends over 800 kilometres (497 mi) between the Thai border and Singapore. The road systems in Sabah and Sarawak are less developed and of lower quality in comparison to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Driving on the left has been compulsory since the introduction of motorcars in Federated Malay States in 1903 during British colonial era.

Railway

The railway system is state-run, and covers a total of 1,849 kilometres (1,149 mi). 1,792 kilometres (1,113 mi) of it is narrow gauge, while 57 kilometres (35 mi) is standard gauge. 150 kilometres (93 mi) of narrow gauge tracks and all of the standard gauge tracks are electrified.Relatively inexpensive elevated Light Rail Transit systems are used in some cities, such as Kuala Lumpur.

Waterways

Malaysia has 7,200 kilometres (4,474 mi) of waterways,most of them rivers. Of this, 3,200 kilometres (1,988 mi) are in Peninsular Malaysia, 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) are in Sabah, and 2,500 kilometres (1,553 mi) are in Sarawak.

Pipelines

Malaysia has 3 kilometres (2 mi) of condensate pipeline, 1,965 kilometres (1,221 mi) of gas pipeline, 31 kilometres (19 mi) of oil pipeline, and 114 kilometres (71 mi) of refined products pipelines.

Port and Harbour

This is a list of Malaysian ports and harbours:

·         Bintulu

·         Kota Kinabalu

·         Kuantan

·         Kemaman

·         Kuching

·         Kudat

·         Labuan

·         Lahad Datu

·         Lumut

·         Miri

·         Pasir Gudang

·         George Town, Penang

·         Port Dickson

·         Port Klang

·         Sandakan

·         Sibu

·         Tanjung Berhala

·         Tanjung Kidurong

·         Tawau

·         Tanjung Pelepas

·         Kuala Kedah

Air