SPAD told not to entertain fare hike for LRT, Monorail

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) today called on the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) not to consider the request by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to raise fares for the LRT and Monorail services.

"If fares are hiked up it would further burden the working class, who are already reeling with the increased cost of living," said MTUC deputy secretary general, A. Balasubramaniam to Bernama.

Moreover, he said MTUC's campaign in encouraging workers to commute by train to work would be hampered as they were already getting used to the idea.

He was commenting on the recent statement by Prasarana managing director, Datuk Azmi Abdul Aziz that the company would request SPAD to review its train fares in view of the increase in maintenance cost and electricity tariffs.

Balasubramaniam told Bernama it was necessary to encourage more people to use public transportation especially in urban areas to help reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

Prasarana, which is a wholly government-owned company, runs the LRT and Monorail services in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding areas and also bus services in the Klang Valley, Kuantan and Penang.

In the Klang Valley alone, it operates 165 bus routes covering 980 housing estates daily.