School bus fare hikes not under transport ministry, says Loke

School bus fare hikes not under transport ministry, says Loke

School bus fares are not regulated and do not fall under the transport ministry’s purview, says Loke Siew Fook.

bas sekolah
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Industri Bas Sekolah Malaysia said school bus fees are expected to increase by between 25% and 30% for the next school session starting in February.

KUALA LUMPUR:
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook today said that school bus fares did not fall under his ministry’s purview.
"School bus fares are no longer regulated, it’s between the parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and bus operators," he said at a press conference in KL Sentral here.

He was asked to comment on a hike in school bus fares expected next month.

Last month, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Industri Bas Sekolah Malaysia reportedly said that school bus fees were expected to increase by between 25% and 30% for the next school session starting in February.

The Federation of School Bus Associations Malaysia had said the hikes could not be avoided despite the allocation of diesel subsidies, as the price of spare parts had gone up.

The government has maintained the price of diesel at RM1.88 per litre for school bus operators since 2017. Currently, the retail price of diesel is RM2.98 per litre in West Malaysia and RM2.15 in East Malaysia.

Separately, Loke said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd would adjust its KTM Komuter service times for the Port Klang-KL Sentral-Port Klang line to allow for upgrade works for the Klang Valley Double Tracking Phase 2.

He said the ministry would use a combination of trains, buses, and demand-responsive transit vans to reduce the KTM Komuter train frequency from one hour to 30 minutes.

"From Port Klang to KL Sentral, trains will operate at a frequency of 30 minutes in peak morning periods. At other times, they will be replaced by buses that will also operate at a frequency of 30 minutes.

"From KL Sentral to Port Klang, trains will operate at a frequency of 30 minutes during the evening peak hours and be replaced by buses at other times, although still at a frequency of 30 minutes," he said.

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