THE FEDERAL government should subsidise public transportation in Sabah, if it really cares for the people of Sabah, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
Its Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah said this is especially appropriate and necessary in view of the fact that majority of Sabahans are still poor and can’t even afford a motorcycle, let alone a car.
He contended that if the Federal government can afford to subsidise the road users in Peninsular Malaysia amounting to RM287 million for the four expressways namely the North-South Expressway, Sprint Expressway, Sungai Besi Expressway and Pantai Baru Expressway, it should not have problem subsidizing the public transportation in Sabah.
"The Barisan Nasional (BN) led Federal government must not deny nor forget the fact that a bulk of the money which it used to subsidise the toll companies were contributed by the revenues generated from oil and gas from Sabah,” he reminded.
He said this while commenting on the recent announcement by Penampang Union Transport Company (PUTC) to cease operations, citing reason that it can’t afford to change its existing fleet of buses that are more than 10 years old with new ones, as required by the relevant authorities. Besides PUTC, the Labuk Road Transport Company in Sandakan too is facing the same fate.
Chong who is also SAPP Kepayan chief believed the closing down of PUTC would inevitably have a far-reaching impact on the general masses, especially those who have no choice but to depend on public transportation.
The only remaining option now is the mini buses which are unfortunately not without an issue. This is because the permit of many of these mini buses only allows them to operate within Penampang district.
"I doubt the passengers could claim insurance if an accident occurs beyond Penampang area during the ride,” he said.
He said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) should go down to the ground and take action against mini bus operators who violated their respective permit.
Chong further noted that many areas within Penampang District especially those situated a little bit further from Donggongon including some new housing estates are not being served by public transportation.
He cited example, residents in Kendara Court have to walk for some distance to get public transportation, while many residential estates surrounding the Lido township too are currently not covered by mini bus services.
He thus urged the Government to subsidise diesel and spare parts for the public transport operators like the stage bus companies, so that they could afford to continue to serve the public, especially those from the low-income bracket.
He added that such a move would definitely benefit the people rather than the bus companies, since the bus fares would be kept affordable.
He also reminded the fact that other existing stage bus operators like Leun Tung Tat Company (LTTC) which is servicing Kota Kinabalu area, as well as Tuaran Union Transport Company (TUTCO) plying between Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran, too are currently struggling to stay afloat mainly due to a high overhead contributed by a comparatively high prices of spare parts, as compared to Peninsular Malaysia.
This was mainly due to the high freight charges contributed by the Cabotage Policy.
He further reminded that many countries in the world are subsidizing their public transportation.
First and foremost there should be an improvement of the public transportation system in the state. There should be better public transportation routes, sufficient bus stop, regular timing for arrival and departure etc.
ReplyDeletesetuju..usaha untuk meningkatkan kualiti perkhidmatan pengangkutan di Sabah harus terus dibuat.
DeleteSubsidizing diesel and parts would be good for the bus operators to ensure that they are able to continue to provide service to the public, this can be considered.
ReplyDeleteI wish more subsidization will be done. Lets think for the poors.
ReplyDeleteBus services should be improve and provide better quality of service to the people.
ReplyDeleteEspecially for local bus operators. Less buses for certain areas and it should be rectified.
DeleteHe thus urged the Government to subsidise diesel and spare parts for the public transport operators like the stage bus companies, so that they could afford to continue to serve the public, especially those from the low-income bracket.
ReplyDeleteSubsidy ini betul satu cadangan yang baik agar lebih banyak golongan di Sabah dapat menikmati bus tambang yang lebih berpatutan.
tunggu dan lihat apa langkah sapp untuk mengetengahkan cadangan mereka ini.
DeleteThe subsidy indeed to increase more burden to the government.
ReplyDeleteSo much taxes in the market now.
DeleteHope more and better bus services provide to the public.
ReplyDeleteSemestinya banyak bus diperlukan di sini.
Deletesetuju, pengangkutan bas harus ditambah untuk sesuai dengan keperluan.
DeleteHe said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) should go down to the ground and take action against mini bus operators who violated their respective permit.
ReplyDeleteCadangan yang baik untuk memastikan permit bus operator masih sah. Pihak CVLB harus menjalankan tugas dengan lebih berkesan.
Cadangan yang perlu dipertimbangkan.
ReplyDeleteKalau nak subsidi lebih banyak bus maka gaji pemandu juga harus naik.
Deletemungkin juga cadangan ini akan dipertimbangkan dengan sebaiknya.
DeleteSubsidy ini mengurangkan beban semua bus operator.
ReplyDeleteSubsidy yang semakin banyak cuma menambahkan beban kerajaan yang banyak lagi berhutang.
ReplyDeletejika soalan subsidi ini ditanya kepada pembangkang, mereka akan cakap semua boleh.. maklumlah terdesak..
DeleteSemoga infra di serata Sabah dipertingkat agar servis bus dapat sampai ke kawasan perkampungan juga.
ReplyDeletekadang2 pengusaha bas juga akan berfikir dua kali setelah melihat kedudukan kampung2 di negeri ini yang agak berselerak dan berjauhan antara satu dengan yang lain.. situasi ini membuatkan perniagaan mereka tidak profitable kerana terpaksa berhadapan dengan kos pengangkutan yang tinggi sementara penumpang belum tentu ada..
DeleteJika subdidy ini tidak membawa kesan sampingan, seharus dikaji dan dilaksanakan juga.
ReplyDeletetidak ada apa yang perlu disubsidikan kerana charge pengangkutan awam di negeri ini masih ditahap yang berpatutan.. lain la jika di negeri ini ada tol..
DeleteSeharus mempelajari cara pengendalian perkhidmatan bus di luar negeri.
ReplyDeleteyup.. saya juga akui cara pengendalian bas di negeri ini masih tidak teratur.. masih banyak kekurangan jika dibandingkan dengan sistem pengangkutan awam di semenanjung..
Deletesistem pengangkutan awam di Sabah harus dipertingkatkan lagi.
ReplyDeletePengangkutan Awam rasanya okay sudah di Sabah. Cuma mungkin mutu perkhidmatan yang perlu ditambah baik.
ReplyDeleteyup.. cuma yang bermasalah itu ialah pemimpin2 politik yang sentiasa mengemukakan isu2 yang tidak releven..
Deleteharap kualiti perkhidmatan bas akan terus dipertingkatkan dari masa ke masa.
ReplyDeletelebih baik minta kerajaan persekutuan menyalurkan dana untuk meningkatkan kecekapan keluar masuk bas dari terminal bas dan memperbaiki kemudahan terminal untuk keselesaan pengguna..
Deletejika pengangkutan awam diberikan subsidi, nanti jadi macam kes IPP pula.. besok2 dia akan cakap subsidi diberikan kepada kroni..
ReplyDeleteatau SAPP mungkin mempunyai kroni dikalangan pengusaha pengangkutan awam?? sebab itu dia minta subsidi.. bila subsidi diberikan, subsidi itu pula akan digunakan oleh YTL untuk membayar saman rm1 juta yang dikenakan mahkamah kepada beliau..
ReplyDelete