KUALA LUMPUR: It is untrue to claim that the operational expenses of express buses have increased due to the rationalisation of diesel subsidies, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said express bus operators recently had their monthly quotas for subsidised diesel increased from 2,880 litres to 6,000 litres a month.
“This will help them to keep their operational costs under control,” he said during Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (July 16).
Loke also said express buses are given subsidised diesel under the Subsidised Diesel Regulation System (SKDS).
“Diesel is priced at RM1.88 per litre under SKDS 1.0,” he said.
Loke was responding to a supplementary question raised by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Independent-Gua Musang), who asked about measures to assist bus operators burdened by increased operation costs due to diesel subsidy rationalisation.
The minister said joint enforcement operations on express and tour buses have been held across the country to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
According to Loke, express buses are complying better with traffic rules and regulations compared to tour buses.
“Non-compliance involving tour buses is way higher than express buses.
“Some drivers are found to be involved in drug abuse, some are not taking enough rest and some do not have a second driver,” he said.
“Joint operations are being held from time to time to ensure that traffic rules are complied for public safety,” added Loke.
