Bus operating company workers, customers applaud SPAD for not increasing ticket price

Workers at bus operating companies have collectively applauded the move by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to not give in to the demand of the bus operators to increase ticket prices before the coming Hari Raya period.

Many of them felt that the move, if implemented would burden the public and they would lose more customers.

“As is it, many of our customers feel that the current ticket price is high. If the authorities increase the price, the customers will be unhappy. We may even lose our customers if the ticket prices go up.

“It is better to maintain the price as it is,” said Konsortium Bas Express clerk, Kamalita Katas.

Awana Sdn Bhd clerk Siti Nornashiba said the she empathises with the customers.

“I am also a customer when I use the bus services and I would not like to see an increase in bus ticket fares.

“Not many people can afford it. If there is a hike in the ticket price, it will burden the customers especially the poor and students,” said the 19-year-old.

Another clerk from Transnasional who wanted to remain anonymous said it is best if the prices remained the same.

Yesterday, SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal told AstroAWANI that the commission has decided to not give in to the demand of the bus operators to increase ticket prices before the coming Hari Raya period.

Mohd Nur Ismal said so following a recent demand by the Malaysian Bus Operators Association to not to sell advance tickets for July and August for the coming Hari Raya period until Spad agrees to allow a 30 per cent increase in ticket prices.

“They cannot hold us at ransom like this. We can’t simply give in to this demand as it will be a huge burden to the public.

“We won’t be increasing the ticket prices before Hari Raya as is it too short a notice. It is not fair to ask for the increase when the festive season is around the corner.

“We have already met several bus operators and a handful of them are willing to operate even without the increase,” he had said without ruling out the possibility of an increase in the ticket price after Hari Raya.

Meanwhile, Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Datuk Asfar Ali said it is up to the bus operators to accept Spad’s decision.

“The last time there was an increase of ticket prices was in 2008 which five years ago. It is high time the ticket prices go up.

“On May 22, we had a meeting with Spad to ask them to consider the 30 per cent increase in the ticket prices.

“They said they will consider the decision. We have not officially been informed of the decision to not increase the price,” he said.

Asfar also said that the association was misquoted by the media which reported that they will not sell advance tickets for July and August until Spad agrees to allow a 30 per cent increase in ticket prices.

"We don't have the power to do," he said.

A mother’s woe

M. Prema, 43, from Taiping was devastated when she found out that SPAD is reviewing a hike of 30 per cent in ticket price.

Prema said she often travels to Kuala Lumpur to visit her eldest daughter who is a student at a private college here.

“Since I have three other younger children, I often travel with them to visit my daughter. The cost from Taiping to Kuala Lumpur is RM25 per person.

“So, I have to fork out RM100 just to come to Kuala Lumpur to visit my daughter. To go back to Taiping, I have to fork out another RM100.

“If the bus ticket price goes up, I would not be able to come see my daughter that often,” she said.

However, she is really grateful that SPAD has decided to not increase the ticket price for the time being.

Meanwhile, student M. Devagi, 21, said she is glad with SPAD’s decision.

“Whenever students go through semester breaks, we usually will go back to our hometowns. However, with a high ticket price, we have to think twice before doing so.

“If the authorities increase the ticket prices, we would not be able to go back to see our families. It would be a burden to us,” she said.