ABSTRACT
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought devastating effects to the public transportation industry, causing unprecedented loss in both demand and income. It is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic will shift passengers’ relationship with public transport as building public transport without a sustainable environment affects public health severely. The social, economic, and environmental impacts of transportation can become critical issues that will challenge sustainability as time passes. The degree of transformation is still unclear, especially where it relates to the design, use, and perception of public transportation in the future. The key question is how COVID-19 measures have been and will be implemented and the economic and social effects in terms of financial adversity, social equality, and sustainable mobility. This study synthesizes the Economic and Social Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Public Transportation in Malaysia. The study aims to underline arising questions at the interface of COVID-19 and public transportation operations in Malaysia. Phenomenology Research Design was applied to attain the research objectives. In this study, interview questions which were perceived as the most appropriate were applied to collect COVID-19 information in Malaysia. The call for participation was through personal contacts of the researchers. The results reveal that the industry has sufficient knowledge of COVID-19. Due to capacity being severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a heavy loss of cash flows, the industries suffered a tremendous loss. The new normal measures by the government are the key to aiding recovery from COVID-19. It is also found that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in the midst of maintaining physical distancing. This chapter has studied these changes to improve public transportation post-COVID-19. The study also discusses implications for public transportation decision-makers to ensure efficient and effective delivery of public transportation services. This study elaborates an outlook for decision-makers and future research themes of public transportation and related sectors. Government’s sector-specific support is much needed toward post-COVID-19 recovery, including the study’s sampled sectors, i.e., airport, bus, and tour operators.
