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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Commuters vent in social media over fare hikes

Come April 1, fares for budget taxis will be offered at a new rate. Express buses and popular rail service KTM Komuter will also raise their prices. The hikes will take effect on the same date which sees the goods and services tax being implemented. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 19, 2015. Come April 1, fares for budget taxis will be offered at a new rate. Express buses and popular rail service KTM Komuter will also raise their prices. The hikes will take effect on the same date which sees the goods and services tax being implemented. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 19, 2015. 
Caught by surprise by announcements today that fares for budget taxis, express buses and popular rail service KTM Komuter will be increased, netizens took to social media to vent their displeasure.
Many said the fare increases are being implemented just as Malaysians are psyching themselves for the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in less than two weeks.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) announced that taxi fares are up by 43% effective today while the fare for express buses will go up by 23% from May 15.
Erna Mahyuni tweeted via her handle @ernamh: "I could accept a 5-10% fare hike to keep up with inflation. But a sudden 40%? The poor can't absorb that rise."
Another Twitter user Akmal Saufi MK (@akmalsaufi) said: "The approved price hike by SPAD and GST with its uncertainty is a double whammy to the Rakyat. UMNO & BN must fight this. Fight for us.
"We the youth wont seat (won't sit) idly and accept this price hike. Youths’ salary increase is not fast enough to cope with this sort of living cost."
Under new rates announced by SPAD today, fares for budget taxis in Kuala Lumpur will increase to 25 sen/200m from 10 sen/115m.
It was also reported that the flag-down rate for cabs remained at RM3.
Express bus fares will increase to 11.4 sen/km, from the current 9.3 sen/km. This means a bus ride from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur will be RM25.30 from April 1 from the current RM20.60.
Several Twitter users said the fare increases will only discourage the public from taking cabs or express buses.
Some tweeted that they would drive their own cars now than take taxis.
Cina (@youtiup) remarked: "40% hike in taxi fare. think i should drive again."
One Twitter user questioned the wisdom of making public transportation more expensive when there should be more efforts to encourage the public to use them.
QJ (@qayzr) tweeted: "Funny country, this. Public transport isn't really something we take pride in and hello price hike."
Another left a cheeky tweet, directed at a cabinet minister.
Ram (@ramachandran_m) wrote: "So where is that Minister who urged for boycott of Chinese businesses now that govt has announced hike in public transport fares?"
He tweeted this in reference to the recent comment by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who called for a boycott of Chinese businesses for not reducing prices of goods when oil price had gone down.
Malaysians in Penang were also hit by news that the water tariff in the state will be revised beginning April 1.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) general manager Jaseni Maidinsa announced today that domestic water users would pay an average of 16.7% higher water tariff rates effective April 1.
Domestic users, who use 20,000 to 35,000 litres per month, would pay a maximum of only RM0.60 more per month for their water bills, he said, adding that only those who use over 35,000 litres of water per month would pay more based on the level of water consumption.
The newly revised rates will not affect the first band of consumption of 0-20 cubic metres a month at 22 sen/m3. The move is to reward those who save water.
Social media users also shared links to the news on their social media accounts, with some criticising the tariff hike.
OrdeBaru (@hashimrahim) tweeted: "rise up the water tariff to reduce consumption, this is very stupid excuse."
Despite the increase, Penang's water tariffs are reportedly still the lowest in the country compared to other states, at RM0.32 for every 1,000 cubic litres for the first 35,000 litres.
- TMI

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