PETALING JAYA: School bus operators have urged the government to carry out a thorough study on the delivery of fare subsidies and to involve them as well as other stakeholders in the process.
Their involvement will contribute towards a practical subsidy system, rather than one that just looks good on paper but is superficial and unworkable, said Federation of Malaysian School Bus Associations president Amali Munif Rahmat.
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"Apad must carry out this study because there are many variables involved.
“It should not be something that, in reality, cannot be executed because (those conducting the study) did not understand the real implications," he said after meeting the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) on Tuesday (Jan 3) to discuss pressing issues affecting the business.
According to Amali Munif, the study should include the delivery mechanism, the duration, and planning of a proper support system.
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“We have put forth our concerns and overall, the meeting was positive,” he added.
On the issue of illegal school bus operators, he said Apad does not have jurisdiction as the Road Transport Department or the police are needed to carry out enforcement.
He said the meeting also discussed reports of school bus fares hitting RM300 a month, as reported by a Malay daily earlier, causing a stir among parents and several quarters.
Amali Munif explained that upon checking, the federation found that the increase – from RM260 to RM300 – involved international schools in Penang.
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“I think people misunderstood that ... international schools' (bus) fares are not the same as government schools. The increase is for the new session (of international schools).
“For government schools, the new session begins in March, (and) there is no increase in the bus fares currently,” he explained.
Recently, school bus operators have raised several issues ranging from a lack of buses and drivers to an increase in overheads, competition from illegal operators, and the need for a school bus fare subsidy to help both the industry and parents cope with rising costs.
