Diesel Subsidy Should Be Inreased For Viability of Express Bus Operation

KOTA BHARU, April 9 (Bernama) -- Bus operator Konsortium E-Mutiara Bhd (E-Mutiara) has urged the government to consider and expedite the approval of the increase in diesel subsidy for express bus operators from 6,000 litres to 10,000 litres per month.

Its executive chairman, Che Ibrahim Che Ismail, said the current subsidy could only cover operational needs for about 20 days, while the rest had to be purchased at market prices, thus burdening operators.

He said the situation could affect express bus operations if it continued, especially ahead of Aidiladha, which would subsequently affect consumers.

"We hope the government can expedite this approval because if it continues, express bus operations will be affected," he told reporters at the E-Mutiara Aidilfitri Celebration Ceremony here today.

According to him, express bus fares, which have not been revised since 2008, should also be reviewed following the increase in operating costs borne by operators.

Commenting further, Che Ibrahim said that express bus operators are now not only facing an increase in diesel costs, but also facing an issue of increasingly limited fuel supply, causing long-distance buses to have to stop at several petrol stations due to the imposed filling limits.

He added that in certain circumstances, drivers are forced to buy diesel at the current price due to the constraints on the use of fleet cards which are limited to certain oil companies, and this situation is expected to worsen especially at the end of the month when diesel supplies are dwindling.

Previously, the Ministry of Finance in a statement announced that the retail price of diesel in the Peninsula had increased by 70 sen to RM6.72 per litre for the period April 9 to 15 while in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan it remained at RM2.15 per litre.

-- BERNAMA