Tambang bas naik - RapidKL fares to go up

KUALA LUMPUR (May 28, 2008):

RapidKL fares are expected to go up with the government’s proposal to drop subsidy for the company with immediate effect to save taxpayers' money. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said a meeting of the cabinet committee on public transportation, which he chaired today, has decided that RapidKL, which is a government-linked company, will not charge a subsidised rate. This means that it will have to compete on a level playing field with other private companies which had hitherto been unable to compete on fare because they do not enjoy an element of subsidy.

"We will take this move immediately and study how the existence of RapidKL could complement the businesses of other local bus companies," Najib said after chairing the committee meeting in Parliament.
Najib said the committee has considered complaints by bus companies, especially in the (KL) Federal Terrritory, on RapidKL's operation. Asked whether this means the fares for RapidKL will be increased, he said: "There will be some adjustments. Meaning, it would not be fair for us to use taxpayers money to subsidise RapidKL."

While stressing that a reasonable amount of money is involved in the subsidy, he said the decision was part of the government’s efforts to streamline its policy towards subsidy but more so in this case, the government does not want RapidKL to "kill" other bus companies. "Local companies are dying. They are going bankrupt actually. And we are using public money. And the effect of using public money is that local companies are going bankrupt. So, there is a moral principle there which is not right," he added. When told that RapidKL is mostly used by those in the lower-income group, Najib said: "There would be slight adjustments, but we are saving on taxpayers' money," adding the government will announce later how the adjustments will be done.

Asked whether this would result in an increase in the fares of public transport, Najib said the committee has discussed and looked into it and assured that the interest of the lower-income group will be protected.

Aiyoooooo..mati la. Tambang sudah naik....of all the subsidy, why must tarik the public transport punya.......tren udah buruk, bas tadak ikut jadual.........die lorrr