PETALING JAYA, March 22 — The postponement of public transport fare hikes has left transport operators frustrated as they cite the increase in cost of living and operation expenses.
Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain estimated the majority of taxi drivers in the Klang Valley had already recalibrated their meters.
“And about 40 per cent of our members have already done so. Now, all of them will have to recalibrate again due to the postponement,” he said.
“Some people had to take a day off to recalibrate their taxis. It would only be fair if SPAD (the Land Public Transport Commission) reimbursed drivers for the time and cost to do it in the first place.”
He said the hike was supposed to take effect during the first quarter of 2014 but was pushed back because of the twin tragedies of MH370 and MH17.
“And now, it is because of GST (Goods and Services Tax). Is it fair for taxi drivers to be made the scapegoats? When is it ever the right time?” he asked.
Bernama reported that the Cabinet had asked SPAD to postpone the hike in public transportation fares.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet discussed the matter during its meeting on Friday and decided the increase was not suitable in light of the current situation.
He said the Cabinet was of the opinion that there was basis for the hike such as fares not being raised for a long time, the operators were burdened with losses and could not pay salaries to workers.
Muhyiddin said SPAD announcement was unsuitable and untimely when the GST was to be implemented on April 1.
“I think maybe we (Cabinet) are asking the matter to be postponed because the timing is not too suitable especially in light of the implementation of the GST.
He said SPAD must look at the situation as a whole and wait for a suitable time to announce the hike in fares later. He also said SPAD could discuss and take the matter to the Cabinet in taking into acount the views of all.
SPAD announced the coordination of the taxi and rental car rates of between 20 and 67 per cent while express bus rates went up 22.6 per cent from May 15.
SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the coordination of fare rates was made on taking into account the needs of operators burdened by the increase in the prices of goods and the interest of the public.
Kuala Lumpur Sentral Taxi Drivers Association president Badrol Hisham claimed the fare hike was supposed to happen last year, but had been put off by SPAD until this year.
“SPAD conducted a study in 2013, and decided we deserved an overdue fare hike last year. We have been pushing for it since,” he said.
Badrol said the constant postponements would only cause more rogue taxi drivers to ignore use of the meter.
“We don’t earn much as it is. It seems like we are the only victims here. These are the kinds of issues that would end up causing desperate drivers to charge their own personal fares instead of following regulations,” he said.
Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association vice-president Hardev Singh Gill said postponing the fare increase would only make matters worse for the public transport industry.
“Currently, we are facing a weaker ringgit value, which made spare parts more expensive. The cost of operations have also increased.
“A postponement would only add more burden to operators, who are already struggling,” he said.
