SHAH ALAM, 9 Jan: The Federal Government should implement the granting of subsidies for school bus operators or directly to parents earning a low income following the recent increase in bus fares.
The Chairman of the PKR Consumerism Bureau, Yahya Shari, said that the responsibility should be taken over by the Federal Government to relieve consumers burdened by the increase in cost of living.
He said that the Federal Government can also give fuel subsidies or road tax and insurance exemptions to bus operators.
“School bus service is a very important transportation for the people, especially for working parents.
“We understand that following the increased cost of living and various subsidy cuts have causes bus operators to be oppressed and made the move to increase bus fares.
“Therefore, the government should give them subsidies or give it directly to parents earning a low income through coupons and so on,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini.
Today, the Sinar Harian newspaper reported that a group of students and parents held a peaceful assembly at Pekan Sungai Dulang, as a symbol of protest regarding the decision by the Hilir Perak School Bus Operators Association to increase bus fares.
The increase of up to RM25.97 for each student is seen as unreasonable, thus burdening parents.
Yahya said that if the 30 percent increase in bus fares demanded by the Malaysian Federation of the School Bus Operators Association is met, it will adversely affect residents, including Sabah and Sarawak.
“The increase in fuel and sugar recently has caused the price of goods, especially in this state, to increase. Coupled with the increase in bus fares, it will further burden the people,” he said.
Previously, the Selangor Government gave a subsidy of RM300 a year to parents earning a low wage in the state.
