KUALA LUMPUR: There is general unhappiness over a government proposal to increase the fare of express buses.
A decision has yet to be made but for Universiti Malaysia student Lukman Afifi, 24, any hike would affect the purchasing power of consumers.
He said if the government went ahead with the move it would add to the burden of regular express bus users to return to their hometowns or go to other destinations.
‘’I personally use the express bus to return to Penang each month. The one-way fare alone is RM40. I also have to use Grab from the station to my house.
‘’I am sure not only students like me will be burdened but other users as well. The hike will entail an increase in budget especially for those who don’t have their own transportation,’’ he said yesterday.
Lukman’s anxiety was shared by student Bustami Roslan, 17, who said the government must be concerned when listening to the grouses of the people who were already burdened by the rising cost of living.
“Any increase will definitely burden people like me who depend on express buses on daily basis.
“I hope the government will consider my plea,” Bustami said.
Yesterday, Transport Ministry deputy minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar was reported to have said that the ministry was still mulling over the matter as it was sympathetic with the bus companies who were facing escalating operating costs.
“Previously, the ministry had considered raising rates by 10 to 30 percent but do not worry because if there is a hike it will be minimal. (This follows) the problem of bus operators who have to bear higher costs from time to time.
“However, the ministry has yet to decide on the matter,” he said after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between E-Mutiara Berhad Consortium (E-Mutiara), executive chairman Che Ibrahim Che Ismail and Scania South East Asia managing director Marie Sjodin Enstrom Friday.
Last November, Kamarudin was also quoted as saying that a review found that the last fare increase was in 2009 at 31 per cent and his ministry was considering a reasonable increase to help express bus operators without burdening consumers. – Bernama
