Bus operators need effective measures, State Govt told

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) is urging the State Government to come up with effective measures to ease the burden of local bus operators affected by the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

Its President Datuk Donald Hanapi (pic) said with bus operations put to a halt for over a month, operators are getting worried over their increasing financial difficulties.  

“We have not been given a moratorium in terms of the monthly instalment payments for our operating buses. 

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“The monthly instalments and also ticketing counters provided by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) must still be paid despite not being allowed to operate since the previous Movement Control Order (MCO),” he said in a statement, recently. 

Donald also urged the Government to allow bus operations to resume on condition of standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, if no solution can be given to the operators’ financial woes.

“We understand the current situation that the Government faces. Therefore, if there is no aid or solution in the near future, we ask for room to operate with the existing SOP or even tighter regulations to curb Covid-19 transmissions. 

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“This is because we need to work hard to restore our economy which has been severely impacted since the first MCO,” he said. 

Seboc also requested the Government to clearly announce the dates of when express buses can resume operations. 

“This is because we need to make thorough preparations in terms of sanitisation and necessary materials to comply with the SOP before starting operations,” he said. 

The Council hoped the Government would hear their pleas as bus operators are in dire need of help. 

“We are also ready to discuss (with the authorities) regarding proactive solutions in easing the burden of bus operators,” he said.