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		The Consumers Request The Government To Study And Fix Malaysian Bus Fare At A Reasonable Rate Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the Malaysian Cabinet's approval of bus fare increase of 13.3 to 45%. 15 June 2000
		Apparently, for the first time in eight years, the Malaysian Cabinet approves the bus fare increase between 13.3 to 45%, 13.3 to 33.3% outside Kuala Lumpur and 40 to 45% within Kuala Lumpur. Naturally, this results in widespread reaction from consumers. On the other hand, Pan Malaysian Bus Association President Tan Sri Ninam Shah Sulaiman insists that bus operators demand 50% fare increase. The bus companies are protecting their interest. After announcing the fare increment the day before yesterday, the Enterpreneur Development Minister Datuk Nasri maintains that once the Cabinet decides, the decision cannot be changed. He says that school bus and taxi fares will not increase. The consumers are unhappy with the bus fare increase as it adds to their burden. It sparks a chain reaction. The Malaysian Airline, MAS, is waiting to have a new plane fare.The Minister's remark does not help. He portrays the Cabinet as having a heart insusceptible of pity. The consumers cannot agree with this attitude. We do not know whether the Enterpreneur Ministry has been in close consultation with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry. Studying the national conditions and listening to public opinions are important. One of the objectives of the Consumer Affairs Ministry is to ensure adequate supply of goods and services as well as reasonable price at all situations. The Ministry is said to conduct daily inspection of things like chicken to ensure that all concerned comply with the pricing guidelines. The increase of Consumer Price Index, CPI, to over 3% is thought to be due to the increase in				the prices of food items, gross rent, fuel and power as well as transport and communication. With the increment of transport fare such as bus fare, the CPI is expected to rise. Does the Ministry conduct regular inspection of fare of public transport? The two ministries would have to work closely to ensure a fair increase in bus fare. If they find that the proposed new fare is too much for the consumers, the Cabinet will have to reconsider its decision. How can it stand pat, oblivious of the suffering of the people? Like all goods and services, the increase in prices must be such that it would not be such a burden to the consumers. Price stability and minimal inflation are essentials in our efforts to make Malaysia a developed nation. Besides being saddened by the fare rise, the public are unhappy with the various aspects of the public transport service. For example, a few years ago, minibuses plied the routes in Jinjang North, in and out of relatively small lanes. Once Intrakota has taken over these routes, it confines itself to the much wider roads like East and North Fence Roads, ignoring the other routes and leaving much of Jinjang North without a bus service. The bus consortium will only go through larger roads. How many four- or six-laned ways are there in Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country? Can the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Public Works Department build wider roads, fast enough to cater for the requirement of bus sonsortiums? If minibuses could operate along small lanes, why can't Intrakota use smaller buses to ply smaller roads and to improve its service to the consumers? Dr Tan Seng Giaw



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