NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RAISE TRANSPORTATION FARES

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai(photo) said the Government always listened to the voices of the people and addressed their needs.
Liow said the proposed fare increases for public transportation had been approved at an earlier date.
However according to Low, the only problem is the timing of the announcement. It is the wrong time to do so," he said at Wisma MCA.
Liow said both the approved rates and the dates of implementation date would be reviewed.
SPAD had on Thursday announced that fares for selected categories of taxis and hired cars would be raised by between 20 per cent and 67 per cent while the express bus fares would increase from 9.3 sen per km to 11.4 sen per km from May 15.
As KTM Komuter fares, the rates would be up by RM1.20  to a maximum of RM19.20 from May 1.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin(photo) said the Government understood the basis for hikes in public transport fares but this was not the time to implement it.
Muhyiddin said with the implementation of the of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1, any rise in fares would only add to the burden of the people especially those who rely on public transportation. 
He said Land Public Transport Commission(SPAD) must review the situation and wait for a suitable time later to announce the hikes.

Source: Agency