Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar has branded the Land Public Transport Commission ‘Suruhanjaya Penghisap Darah’ (blood sucker commission) in a play on the organisation’s Malay acronym Spad.

This was after Spad granted permission to train operator Express Rail Link (ERL) to increase the one-way fare for KLIA Ekspres by 57 percent, from RM35 to RM55, effective next year.

“Throughout 2015, there has already been hikes to taxi, express bus, monorail, KTM Komuter and LRT fares which have left users in Klang Valley without any services that is not burdensome.

“Users who decide to use their own transport too are faced with tolls which rates have also gone up recently.

“These hikes have turned Spad into ‘Suruhanjaya Penghisap Darah’ and not a commission which delivers a transportation system that is comfortable and does not burden the rakyat,” he said in a statement today.

The PAS lawmaker said the series of hikes also go against Putrajaya’s justification that its move to slash subsidies is meant to deliver better services for the rakyat including in public transportation.

Zooming in on the ERL hike which was announced yesterday, Mahfuz pointed out that while there had not been an increase in fares since 2002, its passengers had increased by some 40 percent.

He added that the company, which is owned by YTL Corporation, is also getting RM5 out of RM51 of airport tax for international flights.

The announced ERL hike also affects rates of KLIA Transit fares.

Under the current fare structure, for a journey from KL Sentral, getting to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) would cost RM4.20, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya costs RM9.50 and Salak Tinggi costs RM12.50.

After the hike, a journey from KL Sentral to TBS would cost RM6.50 while getting to Putrajaya/Cyberjaya and Salak Tinggi will cost RM14 and RM18.30 respectively.

ERL said it is working with its partners such as MasterCard to offer discounts to passengers.

The government today also defended the hike, stating that operational cost had doubled since 2002.