Claims that express bus operators’ expenses have increased due to the diesel subsidy rationalisation are untrue, says Anthony Loke (pic).
The Transport Minister said express bus operators’ monthly quota for subsidised diesel was increased from 2,880 litres to 6,000 litres a month to help keep their operational costs under control.
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 added.
The minister 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 the rationalisation of diesel subsidies.
On another issue, Loke said joint enforcement operations on express and tour buses had been carried out nationwide to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
He noted that express buses complied better with traffic rules and regulations compared to tour buses.
“Tour buses have a significantly higher rate of non-compliance compared to express buses.
“Some drivers are still involved with drugs, some are not resting enough and some do not have two drivers,” he said.
Loke said joint operations are held from time to time to ensure traffic rules are complied with by all for public safety.
