The government today postponed express buses and rail fare hikes until further notice, amid claims of sabotage by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd and the Land Public Transport Commision (Spad).

However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said taxi fare hike of up to 67 percent starting last Thursday will continue as announced.

"The express bus and rail fare hike is postponed to a later date which has yet to be determined," she said in a statement.

Consumers reeled over a triple fare hike last Thursday as Spad announced express bus and taxi fare hikes, followed by KTMB’s Komuter fare hike.

Express buses fare were to go up by about 20 percent starting May 15 while Komuter fares were to go up by up to RM7.10 starting May 1.

The decision to postpone the hikes was made at a cabinet meeting last Thursday, Nancy said.

Bernama also reported that Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat-syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia (Gabungan) said there is little the association can do if taxi drivers choose to go on strike.

Metered Taxi Drivers Task Force chairperson Amran Jan yesterday said around 37,000 taxi drivers in the Klang Valley will go on strike if the new fare increase is scrapped or postponed.

This is the first fare revision for taxis in six years.

Taxi drivers will also suffer losses if the fare hike is postponed because they have sent their meters to be recalibrated, Malaysian Taxi, Limousine and Car Rental Operators and Drivers Asociation (Pentekma) told Bernama.