Express bus operators appeal for low diesel price

Express bus operators in the Peninsular Malaysia are appealing to the government to keep the price of diesel down.

The grievance was conveyed by Cosmic Express bus company and Peninsular Malaysia Malay Express Bus Operators Association (Pembawa) committee member Datuk Abu Hasan Awang regarding the hike in diesel price of late and the need to comply with the limited number of passengers allowed .

He said based on standard operating procedure (SOP) on COVID-19, express buses are only permitted to carry 50 per cent of the full passengers capacity, which means if a bus has 34 seats, only 17 passengers are allowed to board.

"Prior to this, when the diesel price was only RM1.40 per litre, we were relieved, but as the Movement Control Order (MCO) is being loosened, diesel price is increasing and now it is RM1.63 per litre.

"So how operators are going to bear the travelling cost by only carrying half capacity? Please do not raise the diesel price," he said to Bernama here, yesterday.

Abu Hasan said since the MCO on March 18, he can only afford to pay the drivers salary for three months.

"We have asked for aid from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), the application was approved but we have not received the money," he said.

He also asked the government to review the SOP on public transportation such as express buses during the upcoming Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).

He added public transportation such as buses, must be appreciated, as they too contribute to the country's economy.

--BERNAMA