Stop being selfish, bus companies told

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said the 30% increase in fares demanded by the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association was too “drastic”.

SUNGAI SIPUT:  The right of consumers to enjoy better express bus services like comfortable rides and punctuality should be considered by the bus operators instead of just thinking about making profits, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek.

He said if consumers fully used their power by boycotting the express bus service in protest of the operators’ plan to raise fares by 30 per cent, the bus companies would stand to lose.

“This is a drastic increase. They think about profits only and not considering the plight of the consumers concerned with such a fare increase,” he said after opening the 48th annual general meeting of Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Perak Berhad, here yesterday.

He was commenting on the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association’s demand for the government to increase the fares for express buses to prevent the bus companies from incurring losses which would force them to close their business.

Hasan said the government, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), express bus operators and other relevant parties should together first study the matter and public reaction to the fare increase proposed by the bus companies.

“We need to look at the people’s reaction. If they don’t like it and protest, we should rethink the matter. If possible, retain the current fares,” he said.

Hasan said the express bus fares should not be increased at will and the matter must be referred to the relevant parties to determine the reasonable rates.

“The bus operators should not just think of profits for themselves as all this while the government has given them various forms of assistance,” he said.

On Thursday, SPAD chairman  Syed Hamid Albar said the commission would study whether to allow the express bus operators to raise fares by 30 per cent or not, and that the decision would be made before the Aidilfitri celebration.

He said the bus operators should be in tune with SPAD in the objective of providing the best service to the public.

Bernama