Diesel subsidies: Express, school bus operators should not raise fares - Loke

Express and school bus operators should not raise fares following the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies in the peninsula, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said this is because the diesel subsidy continues to be given to these bus operators through subsidised diesel fleet cards under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS).

“They should not raise their bus fares. They are not affected by the increase in the diesel price because school and express bus operators are still receiving subsidies.

“So, what reason do they have to raise the fares?” he told a press conference after officiating the 57th Asean Senior Transport Officials Meeting in George Town today.

Loke was responding to the rumours about the possible increase in the fares of school, express and tour buses following the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies which saw a diesel price increase of more than 50 percent, starting Monday.

Loke said the fares for express buses cannot be increased arbitrarily because they are under the purview of the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).

“As for school buses, we don't control the price, we just encourage discussions between the operators and the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs),” he said.

On the possible increase in the fares for tour buses, Loke said there is no subsidy for the tourism sector, as the buses are for tourism purposes and not for daily use.

“Maybe there will be a little increase in the cost for the tourists, but I think it is acceptable for them,” he said.

RTS Link project

In another matter, Loke said he was ready to give a specific briefing to Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the latter questioned the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project.

The former premier claimed there was not much being revealed about the project despite “concrete pylons rising across the Straits of Johor”.

Loke said he respects Mahathir as the country's statesperson but to say there was no revelation about RTS is wrong.

“If he wants complete information, I’m ready to give him a special briefing,” he said.

- Bernama

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