SINGAPORE - A new Family-Friendly Transport Advisory Panel will be formed to make recommendations on how the public transport system can be made more family-friendly.

Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health Lam Pin Min in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday (June 22) said that Public Transport Council (PTC) chairman Richard Magnus and Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport chairman Sitoh Yih Pin will co-chair the new panel, which will be made up of representatives from "diverse backgrounds" who will consult widely.

"A family-friendly public transport system lies at the heart of a family-friendly nation," said Dr Lam.

"My aspiration is that families who now own cars, because they need to ferry their children or their elderly parents, will not need to do so any more in the future."

Mr Sitoh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir, said the panel will allow the Government to take a closer look at how to create a transport system that is more inclusive for all commuters.

Mr Magnus said the panel will allow for closer attention to be paid to the needs of commuters, especially those with young children or elderly dependants.

"This is in line with PTC's existing advisory role to the Transport Minister on transport matters, as we continue to look at ways to make our public transport system more inclusive," he said.