Introduce flexible express bus fares to prevent trip chasing: SPAD chairman

SELAYANG: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has called on the government to introduce a more flexible rate for express bus fares, in light of the recent fatal bus crash in Johor.
SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar (pix) said introducing a better fare would create a chain reaction that would subsequently discourage bus drivers from chasing trips to get a decent salary.
He said the government could not push private bus operators to increase the salary of their drivers as it would result in income losses for the companies.
"The commission paid to bus drivers depends on the trip ... This forces the drivers to chase trips," he said.
"We need to encourage bus operators to pay higher salaries but we must also remember that express busses are not government-owned.
"So, we should allow for a more flexible fare ... It is not the total solution but part of the solution," he said after attending the distribution of groceries and clothing to the Rohingya community at Sekolah Rohingya Pelangi Kasih.
In the 3.30am accident on Christmas eve, 14 people were killed and 16 others injured after the northbound bus plunged into a 10 metre ravine near Pagoh.
In March last year, the government proposed a hike in express bus fare, but the plan was put on hold following criticism from the public. The last revision made to the fare was in 2009.
Syed Hamid said the express bus industry are faced with shortage of drivers due to Malaysians not keen on the job.
He urged the government to introduce a speed limiter for express buses to avert accidents as countries such as the US has adopted the method on its public vehicles to curb over-speeding by drivers.
Syed Hamid said SPAD cannot do much in resolving the issue of fatal crashes as its jurisdiction is limited to granting or suspending the permit of operators unless the government allows it to revoke the Public Service Vehicle licence of drivers, which is currently under the purview of the Road Transport Department.