No rise in bus fare but 10% surcharge allowed for festive season - SPAD

The government has not agreed for a hike in express bus fares but a 10 percent increase has been allowed for the festive season, said SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

This follows a proposal by express bus owners in May to the government for a fare increase.

Syed Hamid said the hike is allowed after taking into consideration the operational costs during festive seasons.

"We have never raised fares during festive season. What we are doing now is imposing additional charge, not raising fares," he told Astro AWANI today.

Syed Hamid added that his officers have worked the calculations on the amount of surcharge allowed to be imposed during the festive season.

"If there are no surcharges, bus operators will not be able to operate. During festive season, buses are full for one way only and the return buses are empty. So, the cost is higher," said Konsortium Transnasional Berhad chairman, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh.

The public transport fares in the country last saw a hike in 2009.

In May, the Cabinet had ordered SPAD to hold the proposal for a public transport fare hike for taxis, rental cars and express buses.

The proposed increment was between 20 and 67 percent.