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Bus fares up by 30%

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PAS has urged the government not to drag its feet any longer as the price hike had been mooted as early as last December.

Malaysiakini

Express bus fares will be raised by 10 percent starting July 8, ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri which is expected to fall on Aug 8, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) said.

According to Sinar Harian, express bus operators are allowed to raise their fares by that quantum until Sept 8 in order to ease cost of operations due to higher demand during the festive season.

However, it warned that under the Competitions Act 2010, action can be taken against operators that withhold tickets within the period.

Earlier it was announced that the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) has been instructed to probe the Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Assocation (PMBOA) for its plans to limit tickets sold if the government does not allow it to raise the price of express bus tickets by 30 percent.

National news agency Bernama quoted Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek as saying that the MyCC has been instructed to start the probe and PMBOA could fall foul of Section 14 (2) of the Competition Act 2010.
“Should this (the plans to limit the number of express bus tickets on sale) happen, it will seriously affect consumers, particularly Muslims who will usher in Ramadan,” Hasan (left) was quoted as saying.

This is in contrast to his statement on Saturday when he reportedly said that consumers could boycott the bus services in protest if they do not agree with plans to raise the fares by 30 percent.

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WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BUS COMPANIES RAISED FARES BY 30%

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THE PAN MALAYSIA BUS OPERATORS ASSOCIATION WANTS A 30% INCREASE IN BUS FARES OR THEY WON’T ALLOW PRE-RAYA BOOKINGS!

THAT’S A HARD ONE TO SWALLOW,

IT’S JUST AS HARD TO SWALLOW THE RESPONSE OF THE DOMESTIC TRADE, COOPERATIVES AND CONSUMERISM MINISTER.

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I AM NOT ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW OR NOT ALLOW A FARE HIKE BUT I AM ASKING THE MINISTER TO TALK SENSE FOR ONCE!

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HERE IS A THOUGHTLESS STATEMENT BY A MINISTER WHO DOESN’T NEED TO TAKE THE BUS:

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said if consumers fully used their power by boycotting the express bus service in protest of the operators’ plan to raise fares by 30 per cent, the bus companies would stand to lose.

Really? How would the ordinary person get home for Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and other festivals? WALK? TAKE THE TRAIN? RIDE A MOTORCYCLE?

It’s the consumers, ordinary people, who have no option but take an express bus, who stand to lose!

GET REAL, MR BIG-SHOT MINISTER! You and your family are A PAMPERED who have no need to travel the way ordinary people travel!

Free Malaysia Today

Stop being selfish, bus companies told

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said the 30% increase in fares demanded by the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association was too “drastic”.

SUNGAI SIPUT:  The right of consumers to enjoy better express bus services like comfortable rides and punctuality should be considered by the bus operators instead of just thinking about making profits, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek.

He said if consumers fully used their power by boycotting the express bus service in protest of the operators’ plan to raise fares by 30 per cent, the bus companies would stand to lose.

“This is a drastic increase. They think about profits only and not considering the plight of the consumers concerned with such a fare increase,” he said after opening the 48th annual general meeting of Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Perak Berhad, here yesterday.

He was commenting on the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association’s demand for the government to increase the fares for express buses to prevent the bus companies from incurring losses which would force them to close their business.

Hasan said the government, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), express bus operators and other relevant parties should together first study the matter and public reaction to the fare increase proposed by the bus companies.
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On Thursday, SPAD chairman  Syed Hamid Albar said the commission would study whether to allow the express bus operators to raise fares by 30 per cent or not, and that the decision would be made before the Aidilfitri celebration.

He said the bus operators should be in tune with SPAD in the objective of providing the best service to the public.

Stop being selfish, bus companies told

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Star

Sunday June 16, 2013

SPAD slams bus fare move

By SHARIDAN M. ALI
sharidan@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The fare for express buses should just have a surcharge of not more than 10% during the Hari Raya season and tickets should be up for sale from July 1, said Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Its chief executive officer Mohd Nur Kamal said the usual 10% surcharge would not be exclusive to additional buses sourced out by bus operators but also applicable to the existing fleet as well.

He was responding to Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association’s (PMBOA) request seeking a 30% increase in bus fares and its reluctance to sell advance tickets for July and August until they received the Government’s confirmation over the rate hike.

He chided the association for taking advantage of the Hari Raya season “to put a gun to our head with public interest at ransom, forcing us to decide on the fare review in a matter of weeks”.

“I think this seemed somewhat orchestrated to create panic among the public and put pressure on us,” he said in an interview.

He said PMBOA had raised the issue of the rate increase via a letter dated May 28 to SPAD.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/16/nation/13246743&sec=nation

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Star

Thursday June 13, 2013

Scramble for Raya tickets on the cards

By PATRICK LEE
patrick.lee@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: A late scramble for bus tickets is on the cards for those planning the balik kampung trip for the coming Hari Raya period unless express bus companies get their way.

The companies want to raise their fares by 30% and have chosen not to sell advance tickets for July and August until they get Government confirmation over an increase.

The move, if approved, will see a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru costing about RM40 instead of the usual RM31.10 (Transnasional).

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashfar Ali said the bus companies had met Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) officials in late May seeking the increase.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/13/nation/13228004&sec=nation

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