The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has approved a 10% surcharge for express bus fares this upcoming Raya season, from July 10-27, Bernama reports.
In a statement, SPAD said that the move was to ensure that express bus services were not delayed, besides fulfilling higher demand during the festive season.
“In addition, this approval takes into account various factors such as improving the level of handling the additional services, improving the supervision system for the express buses and maintaining the service quality of the express buses to ensure passenger comfort and safety during the festive season,” the statement said.
The commision also announced that all the additional express buses for the festive season leaving and arriving at Kuala Lumpur will use the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) at Bandar Tasik Selatan.
SPAD also advised consumers to purchase tickets at valid ticket counters to avoid being cheated, besides keeping ticket stubs as proof. “Valid tickets are computer printed, and will display the name of the company as well as the number plate of the bus which will be boarded by passengers. Consumers are requested to check the information printed on the ticket and verify it at the ticket purchasing counter.
All additional Raya buses departing and arriving in KL will be using the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan
“For passengers boarding the additional buses, they can check the license plate number of the bus as registered with the SPAD, through an attachment displayed at the ticketing counters,” it advised.
Express bus passengers can make complaints to SPAD at 1-800-88SPAD (7723) if they encounter any issues with service, safety and comfort this festive season.
Express bus operators have requested for a fare hike this Raya, citing driver shortage and higher costs during the festive period. Malaysia’s largest express bus company Konsortium Transnasional Bhd (KTB) said that it will not deploy extra buses if the regulators did not approve a fare hike.
KTB MD Tan Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh explained that the company normally added over 100 express buses to meet demand, in addition to the usual 300 on normal days. Bus companies run at a loss during Raya as buses would leave KL every day full, but return near empty, he said. KTB needs 70% capacity to break even.
Nadzmi also weighed in on the industry’s request for the government to deregulate express bus fares. “Government should not regulate fares. Let the market decide as it may lead to lower fares to attract passengers during non-peak period,” he said.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
“Government should not regulate fares. Let the market decide as it may lead to lower fares to attract passengers during non-peak period,” Yeah right, This statement is like company with monopoly charging freely. Everything had to be deregulated 1st, like new route and new company joining in.
Not monopoly per se, but the bus companies are in cahoots with each other. The prices are roughly the same for similar services even if they are big or small companies. You dun get much choice.
Full deregulation might help but then again any independent companies would need deep pockets to counter their stranglehold on the market.
Realistically even after deregulation, the customers would still be at the mercy of these fat cats.
its called a cartel !
its monopolized ..
That day, do not want to allow 10% surcharge, now you allow. Why don’t ask PM as the Finance Minister to allocate some of the GST revenue to bus operators. Nothing is free, if you want up to mark bus services, of course needs to pay.
Bus drivers gets a bonus for for driving during raya. A win for them and I don’t mind that, they should deserve it.
SPAD gets a win from the operators. Some of the Rakyat will pin the blame on SPAD, but they will be quick to point out it was the operators who wanted it.
Operators gets a guaranteed surge in passengers and revenue. The surcharges will pay for the drivers’ bonuses while they pocket the difference. A double win for them and they won’t loose any business even if people hate them.
They Rakyat of course looses, having to pay more during this period. I don’t mind surcharges during peak periods, but express buses are the cheapest transport available. There should be a controlled price for them, with surcharges only applied to premium coaches.
Unless of course SPAD & the Gov believes in the “Nak jimat duit, jangan balik kampung” philosophy.
This SPAD cant even control this. U raise or not raise, malaysia express bus service alwaya worst!
This is a scam….look beyond and you will notice. First they delay the approval of the ETS from KL to up north, by doing so SPAD ensure that demand will be there for buses and granted the bus operator absolute bargaining power to threaten for a price hike. Second they play mr nice guy and say we wont give it…after some wayang kulit they give in cited that it is for the benefit of the rakyat
SPAD – memang know how to dance a good wayang kulit..
Rakyat Didahulukan, that mean suck as much as possible, next will be toll, GST 6% is temporary, later sure will more than 6%, beban rakyat didahulukan.
Actually this SPAD is redundant and serves no actual purposes.
Whatever it is doing, it is overlapping with Transport Ministry is is under Dato Liow Tiong Lai,
But Dato Liow has no jurisdiction on SPAD as SPAD is under Finance Ministry which is under our beloved PM Najib .
And the Head of SPAD is a recycled tainted politician, just a cosy way for him to retire
i second dat. SPAD is just redundant and wayang player only.why got SPAD if we already got police traffic, JPJ. oh, forgot – SPAD is under JPM headed by PM which means…u know what i mean ..hehehe
Thats why SPAD is used to decide all services to cronies la…
Good la naik.. Now they sakit hati, but come election time still pangkah BN. Padan muka.
Spit on SPAD
GST (basically the price of everything also increase!), petrol price increase,bus fare increase and soon toll is also going to be increased. The only thing that is dropping is the value of the ringgit! thank you jibby! Hope you can bank in some of your RM2 billion to my account!
this country is becoming new greece. Too corrupted. And the goverment simply put the burden to rakyat.
SPAD -Semua Pun Akan Ditelan