KOTA KINABALU, March 19 ― Taxi fares in the Klang Valley have been increased starting today while express bus passengers will pay more starting May 15.

According to a Land Public Transport Commission notice, the distance and time rates have been revised to cost 25 sen per 200m, as opposed to 10 sen per 115m before in the Klang Valley.

The revised time is 25 sen per 36 seconds compared to 10 sen per 21 seconds before.

However, flag-down rates for budget taxis nationwide will remain the same at RM3 in the Klang Valley.

The flag down rate in Penang remains the same also at RM4, but passengers will pay 30 sen per 200m and 36 seconds now.

The Star Online news portal reported that Teks1m cabs, the new Proton Exora cabs, will see new flag-down rates upped to RM4, with 30 sen to be charged per 200m.

As of May 15, express buses will increase its fares from 9.3 sen per km to 11.4 sen per km.

This will mean a ticket to Ipoh from KL will cost RM4.70 more with passengers paying RM25.30 instead of RM20.60 previously.

The new fare structure coincides with the new Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Malay Mail paper reported Thursday that the new fare structure was the result of in-depth discussion in a series of taxi workshops nationwide since July 2013, taking into account the high operation costs and cost of living since the last taxi fare review in 2009.

*A previous edition of the story contained an error which has since been corrected.