A DAP lawmaker has called on the government to disclose the terms of the concession agreement it had signed with ERL Sdn Bhd, the concession holder for the KLIA Express and KLIA Transit, in light of the recent RM20 hike in ticket price.

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming in a statement said this was based on projections that ERL stands to earn about RM89 million increase in annual revenue post-KLIA2 extension.

Ong, who cited Transport Ministry's figures on ridership for KLIA Express and KLIA Transit, said the opening of KLIA2 in 2014 has contributed to a 44% increase in total ridership on both lines.

This 44% increase in ridership from 2013 to 2014 can be translated into an additional estimated revenue of RM64 million for the company, Ong said.

"If this trend continues in 4Q2014, this means that the additional estimated revenue from 2014 to 2015 comes up to RM25 million," he said.

As such, Ong said Malaysians should be allowed to evaluate for themselves on whether the fare hike is justified or if the government was negligent in allowing the concessionaire to enjoy exorbitant profits at their expense.

"Was the government negligent in allowing for a huge fare increase for ERL in the supplementary agreement knowing that the KLIA2 extension would bring about a significant increase in ridership?

"Why didn’t the government squeeze the concession holder to limit or even prevent a fare hike given that the KLIA2 extension was fully paid for by the government?" he asked.

Ong pointed out that it is normal practice for a concession holder to sign a supplementary agreement with the government whenever there is a major change to the original concession agreement.

"The concession holder for the KLIA Express and KLIA Transit would also have signed a supplementary agreement with the government as a result of the KLIA2 extension," he said, adding that the supplementary agreement would have included details such as the allowable fare increase over time.

ERL had previously disclosed the approved new fare had been RM64 but the company chose to offer the service at a discounted rate of RM55 instead.

ERL also said the fare revision was done in accordance with the concession agreement it had signed with Putrajaya in 2002.