276 Int. J Sup. Chain. Mgt Vol. 9, No. 4, August 2020 Study of Supply Chain Strategy for Achieving Sustainable Transport Near National Park, Jerantut, Pahang, Malaysia Mohd Sayuti Hassan1*, Siti Fairuz Mohd Radzi1, Farehah Wahid1, Saidatulakmal Mohd1, Zikri Muhammad2*, Jumadil Saputra2 1Center for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia 2Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract-Bus service is the most practical sustainable renamed to National Park after the nation gained transport solution for National Park. Unfortunately, independence in 1957. It is one of the oldest there are various kinds of difficulties that prevent rainforests in the world, estimated at 130 million sustainable transport from being perfectly running, years old. The abundance and diversity of nature which are basically from two birthplaces, the people here is phenomenal, making it one of the world’s and the facilities. Of these, the current investigation is conducted to study the supply chain strategy for most complex and rich ecosystems. National Park is achieving sustainable transport at National Park, very delicate, with our duty to preserve for its Jerantut, Pahang Malaysia. This quantitative study physical ecosystem and biodiversity either flora or conducted by using a survey questionnaire to different fauna. groups, i.e., local community and National Park National Park has seen with an increment of local visitors. The data analyzed using the descriptive and foreign tourist arrival every year [1]. Although statistics analysis, which consist of frequency, local visitors mainly visit national Park, however percentage, mean and standard deviation. Also, this Local Plan Research for Jerantut 2008-2020 and study uses graphical descriptive analysis. The results Pahang State’s Tourist Action Council also had of the analysis show that the car is the most favourable method of transport followed by motorcycle. The forecasted the increment of foreign tourist arrival to reasons are not solely because of the lack of bus service. National Park [2]. Although the increase of However, both local and tourist feel that they are more population and tourists may positively influence the accessible, more comfortable and faster than the rural economies, however, they also create more public bus. Thus, this study suggested that public significant impacts on its environment. The transport facilities must be upgraded with better roads problems caused by a higher number of motor and better bus stops. Payment methods and tickets’ vehicles are numerous, includes air pollution, price is merely not a big issue for National Park. For increase noise, visual intrusion, the hazard to promoting a sustainability issue, the National Park community road users, endangered wildlife and its required more enhancements, not just the bus, the roads around also must be facilitated with more eco- habitat, highlands erosion and damage to the social friendly infrastructures to promote walking and fabric settlements. cycling. The bus is a practical transport alternative to reduce the higher number of motor vehicles Keywords— Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainable considering ready-built roads infrastructure that Transport, National Park, Tourist, already connected to highways and railways to National Park. Besides less greenhouse gas (GHG) 1. Introduction emission from buses, there are more benefits National Park is the first and the oldest official compared to private motor transports such as a car. protected area in Malaysia. The original name of the Running hours, bus design, its technology, type of park was King George V National Park, which was fuel use, passenger load factor and several other declared in 1938 by the Sultans of Kelantan, Pahang variables that relate to the efficiency of the bus can and Terengganu during King George’s Silver be controlled much more comfortable than private Jubilee, where the area was gazetted to preserve the transports [3]-[4]. land’s indigenous nature in perpetuity. The park was ______________________________________________________________ International Journal of Supply Chain Management IJSCM, ISSN: 2050-7399 (Online), 2051-3771 (Print) Copyright © ExcelingTech Pub, UK (http://excelingtech.co.uk/) 277 Int. J Sup. Chain. Mgt Vol. 9, No. 4, August 2020 Although it has more environmental benefits, the Kuala Tembeling by boats. Table 2 shows the type existence of bus services near National Park is of public transport that is available to National Park threatened were lesser number of bus available there for passenger’s travel from other cities or towns. against time, and it reflects with the rising number However, within the area near to National Park, of motor vehicles. It is becoming more difficult to public transportation that available for travellers to get bus services near National Park, and more users directly come to Kuala Tahan are only bus, taxi or turn to other alternatives motor vehicles. The boat. The nearest railway station to Kuala Tahan is growing number of motor vehicles near National Jerantut where travellers often continue with bus or Park today is at an alarming rate where the right taxi to National Park. solutions are needed urgently. Jerantut is the nearest town where travellers National Park can be accessed by many types of could reach National Park, and a major number of transportation either by land or water. Although public transportations are connected to Jerantut. National Park consists of three states; Pahang, There are no accessible routes to National Park by Terengganu and Kelantan, the door of National Park roads except Jerantut to Kuala Tahan (the door of in Kuala Tahan in Pahang which travellers can reach National Park). Other than this route are jungle the gate by road or boats. Except for charter bus tracks which are not suitable for motor vehicles. which can direct travellers to National Park, there Consequently, the focus of the surveys and study is are no direct express or intercity connection to Kuala to solve the sustainable transportation problems of Tahan. Tourists can reach National Park via Jerantut- Kuala Tahan route. Jerantut, the nearest town to National Park or via Table 1: Profile of tourists at the National Park International Tourists Domestic/ASEAN Tourists Backpackers Package tour Package tour Daily tour Backpackers Approximately Approximately Approximately Approximately Approximately 36,000 per year 4,118 per year the 25,000 per year the 11,000 per year 8,304 per year Majority stay at majority stay at majority stay at Most of them visit Majorit chalets in Kuala resorts such as the resorts such as the exotic places accommodate in Tahan Mutiara National Mutiara National around Kuala chalets in Kuala Park Resort Park Resort Tahan Tahan Table 2: Type of public transportation available near National Park and its entry points Public transport The nearest entry to the Pahang National Park/ National Park Train The nearest station is Jerantut station. From Jerantut train station, passengers need approximately 1-hour road journey to Kuala Tahan, National Park. Travellers can access to train services from any KTM stations. Boat The nearest jetty in Kuala Tahan the Travellers can obtain boat service from Kuala Tembeling jetty, and travel duration from Kuala Tembeling to Kuala Tahan takes approximately 3 hours. Travellers can reach Kuala Tembeling by road transports from Jerantut. Bus or taxi The nearest stations are at Kuala Tahan and Kuala Tembeling. Travellers can access from the nearest town, Jerantut or other bus stations that offer direct services. 278 Int. J Sup. Chain. Mgt Vol. 9, No. 4, August 2020 In conjunction with the previous discussion, the of tourists, use public transport to National Park. objective of this study is to improve public However, most of them are using charter buses from transportation, especially to bus services near other cities and not from Jerantut-Kuala Tahan. That National Park towards sustainability that leads to the is the reason why the significant numbers of the reduction of unhealthy impacts in the region. The survey feedbacks are planned only for locals’ usage of other motorized vehicles other than public respondents. The feedback information from this buses could be reduced and limited with an survey would be crucial in understanding and increment of the public buses use. The changes planning for public transportation in the future. would be in parallel with the reduction of traffic levels and recover environmental complications, 3. Results without affecting public access and enjoyment or influencing on rural economies. For achieving this Gender characteristic of the survey to local objective, we investigated through a survey work community comprises of 62.3% males’ respondents near and within National Park, which is in a region or 187 of them while the rest are females with 113 within the states of Pahang, Kelantan and respondents. For tourists’ survey, it’s characterized Terengganu. by 144 male and 156 female respondents. Age division for the survey to the local community is 2. Methodology divided into four categories, where the major percentage or 67% of the respondents is below 30 The foundation of this study was based on the years, 19.7% is between 31 to 40 years, 12% is information and data obtained from the previous between 41 to 50 years, and 1.3% of the respondents research in the same regional area [2]. The necessary are more than 50 years. The similar age categories information was developed into a complete survey used to the survey to tourist, where 88% of the for transport users within and nearby National Park, respondents is below 30 years, 8% is between 31 to which consist of six segments of identified main 40 years, and 4% is between 41 to 50 years. On both issues. The basic theme of the survey is to surveys to the local community and tourist, none of understand how public transport can be improved the respondents is disabled, and that might be the near National Park.