More incentives for bus operators this Raya

STAR, September 4, 2008

PUTRAJAYA: The Government is providing 9,000 litres of subsidised diesel for each additional bus the operators are willing to put on the road, to avert a shortage for the Hari Raya rush across the country.

The Cabinet decided to offer this incentive following fears that school and factory bus operators might refuse to lease out their buses, if they were not offered a diesel subsidy.

To ward off such a crisis, an additional 2,000 express buses can be expected to be put on the roads for the balik kampung exodus this Hari Raya.

This optimism takes into account the Government’s offer of a diesel subsidy of 9,000 litres for each additional express bus used between Sept 15 and Oct 15.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the decision would cost the Government between RM100mil and RM150mil in subsidy.

“This is in addition to the 30% surcharge and discounted toll charges to ensure Malaysians have enough transportation to get home,” he told reporters after attending the launch of Bernama’s web television.

Prior to the announcement, bus operators had said that the 30% surcharge allowed by the Government for the Hari Raya season was inadequate for them to lease more buses.

Shahrir added that Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar would give more details on the Cabinet decision.

Asked if there would be a fuel price revision this month, Shahrir said he hoped that there would be a Hari Raya gift, as the world oil price had dropped recently.

Budget airline, Firefly, said there would be extra return flights from Subang to Kota Baru on Sept 29-30 and Oct 3-6, while AirAsia had also arranged for extra return flights on other domestic routes.