Bus operators mull free service on polling day

KUALA LUMPUR: Stage bus operators in Peninsular Malaysia are proposing to provide free bus service on polling day on May 9.
Basri Baharom, a spokesman for the operators, said they were in the process of getting the approval of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) for this purpose.
He said more than 150 bus operators wanted to offer the free service in appreciation of the stage bus transformation programme implemented by caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
They would make available 400 to 500 buses throughout the peninsula to serve certain routes, he said, adding that the passengers would be issued tickets and they would be covered by insurance.
Basri also expressed support for the Barisan Nasional (BN), saying the special allocation of about RM400 million under the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund (ISBSF) since 2012 had greatly helped the bus operators carry on with their services, especially in the rural areas.
"The Prime Minister also continued the transformation of the stage bus service by introducing the MyBas service in several towns such as Kangar, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu and Ipoh.
"We fully support the transformation programme and hope that the ISBSF aid and the MyBas programme can be extended to the rest of the country including Sabah and Sarawak," he added. — Bernama