Kota Kinabalu: An application for an interim approval to raise express bus fares from 10 sen to 16 sen per kilometre effective Thursday has been submitted to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB).
Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) President Donald Hanafi said the operators decided to apply for the increase because they could no longer shoulder the burden of the fuel hike. Speaking to reporters at the Inanam Terminal, Tuesday, he said they were contemplating imposing the new fare beginning 7.30am Thursday even if they did not get the interim approval.
Donald said at present the fare from the Terminal in Inanam to Tawau is RM55 per person, RM40 to Lahad Datu and RM30 to Sandakan, which is no longer sufficient for the operators to sustain due to the diesel price hike.
If the fare is raised to 16 sen per km, the fare to Tawau would be RM88, RM64 to Lahad Datu and RM48 to Sandakan.
Under the old diesel price, the operators only had to spend about RM400 for one return journey to these destinations but now they have to fork out about RM1,200, he claimed.
Towards this end, he regretted the statement by Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Mohd Noh Omar that the Ministry would revoke the permit of bus operators if they raise the fares.
"He should not make a blanket statement because we in Sabah are facing a different situation compared to Semenanjung," said Donald.
He reiterated that the road conditions in Sabah are not that good, resulting in the express bus operators having to shoulder extra costs due to maintenance and replacement of parts that wear quickly and unexpectedly.
At the same time, he said Seboc had also requested the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's Sabah branch to provide a clearer explanation to the operators on the use of the fleet card for subsidised diesel.
Previously, the operators did not use the fleet card facility because it was more a hassle to them, especially when there was not much difference between the retail price of diesel and using the card.
"We also received complaints that those using the fleet card to fill up fuel at the petrol kiosks were not treated well compared to when paying cash," he said.
"We hope the Government will understand our problem so that they will make a favourable decision for us, which we hope will be implemented immediately," he said.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Sabah
12/06/08
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