Kota Kinabalu: Taxi, bus and lorry operators in the State have begun clamouring for an upward revision of fares to offset Wednesday's sudden hefty fuel price hike.
A Daily Express random survey showed some taxis to be already quoting higher rates while bus operators say they will be out of business if fares are not raised from the present 10 sen per km to 16 sen.
The busmen said this is necessary to cushion the impact of the 78 sen and RM1 increase, respectively, in the prices of petrol and diesel as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi .
Public transport fares are regulated by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB). Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) President Donald Hanafi said express bus operators were hardest hit by the move that saw the diesel price going up from RM1.58 to RM2.58 per litre. Petrol went up from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre.
In an immediate reaction, all express bus operators have decided to stop providing free "nasi campur" and bottle of drinking water jointly worth RM4 to passengers.
"If the Government does not do anything, at least 40 per cent of express bus operators in Sabah will have to close shop," he said at the Inanam Terminal, Thursday.
Donald said they had an emergency meeting shortly after the price hike was announced, which they described as a total surprise due to the sudden manner and quantum of increase, which was more than 60 per cent.
"On behalf of express bus operators I am urging the Government to look into our plight seriously especially the CVLB to consider revising the rate of our fare.
"It will be disastrous to continue operating at the present rate without taking into account the huge fuel price hike. Besides, it has been four years since the rate has been reviewed," he said. A full tank for an express bus means filling up 310 litres of diesel, which based on the new price is equivalent to a whopping RM799.80.
"We might just break even if the fare is upped to 16 sen per km."
He also said long-haul bus operators face a different situation in Sabah compared to their counterparts in the peninsula where road conditions are better.
"Sabah roads are not that good and we have to shoulder extra cost in maintenance since tyres, suspension and other parts wear out quicker and unexpectedly," he said.
He said if the Government does not allow the fare hike then it should consider giving special exemption to express bus operators from the new price.
"If there is no immediate answer from the Government we will have to find ways and means to get the CVLB to listen to us. We really hope the Government will be considerate and find a quick solution to our problem."
Sabah West Coast Taxi Operators Association President Wong Nyuk Ming urged the Government to do something to offset ballooning operational costs following the latest development.
"We hope the Government will allow us to raise fares that have only been revised once in the past 25 years," he said.
Wong said that fare revision was to cater to the use of meters where the starting price was fixed at RM1.40.
"We were asked to charge RM1 per kilometre in 1983 and today we are still being asked to charge the same rate," he lamented.
"With the sky high fuel price hike how can we make ends meet?," he said.
The association has about 500 registered members.
Wong said while the use of taxi meters is mandatory, most passengers, including tourists, preferred to pay based on an earlier agreed sum rather than using the meter.
The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations (FSLTA) said it would be reviewing charges. Its Sec-Gen Adrian Ho said an increase was inevitable. "We have maintained our pricing since 2006 despite the increase in the cost of related items.
"For instance, the price of battery has gone up by 200 per cent. But our charges remained because we never anticipated that fuel price will increase drastically. We did not want to raise bit by bit because we know it would annoy our customers."
He said FSLTA held a meeting on Wednesday night following the announcement to gauge the direct impact of the new pricing.
"We will be meeting again to look at a number of things, including the cost of spare parts. Basically, we will look at additional costs for operations because a RM1 increase constitutes a substantial amount not only in terms of fuel."
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Sabah
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