Loke: Apad to meet school bus operators

PETALING JAYA: The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) will meet with school bus operators today to discuss several pressing issues.

The matter was confirmed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke yesterday.

“Apad is meeting the associations,” he confirmed to The Star.

Earlier, he was reported as saying that the meeting was being held after school bus operators were quoted as planning to raise fares from today onwards.

A Malay daily had earlier reported that parents were infuriated by claims that some fares would hit RM300 a month, but when contacted, many bus operators said no decision had yet been reached on the matter.

Federation of Malaysian School Bus Operators Association president Amali Munif Rahmat had said that they had wanted to meet Apad to discuss several ongoing issues for a while now.

These issues include the increase in overhead costs, which led to an increase in school bus fares, a lack of drivers, as well as a lack of buses.

Several bus operators have also urged the government to help those in business sustain themselves and also provide better services.

Meanwhile, Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur School Bus Association president Mohd Haron Mohd Sidik said illegal bus and vehicle operators had affected the industry.

He said legal operators must fork out more for things like inspections, road insurance and other requirements, while illegal ones do not.