Express bus operators seek urgent diesel subsidy increase from 6,000 to 10,000 litres monthly, citing operational strain and potential service disruptions ahead of Aidiladha
KOTA BHARU: Express bus operators are urging the government to urgently increase their monthly diesel subsidy quota to ensure service viability.
Konsortium E-Mutiara Bhd executive chairman Che Ibrahim Che Ismail called for the subsidy to be raised from 6,000 litres to 10,000 litres per month.
He stated the current allocation only covers about 20 days of operations, forcing operators to buy the remainder at market price. This financial burden could ultimately affect consumers if services are disrupted, especially ahead of the Aidiladha festive period.
“We hope the government can expedite this approval because if it continues, express bus operations will be affected,” Che Ibrahim told reporters.
He also highlighted that express bus fares have not been revised since 2008, despite rising operational costs.
Operators are facing additional challenges beyond just diesel costs, including limited fuel supply at stations. Che Ibrahim explained that long-distance buses often must stop at multiple petrol stations due to imposed filling limits.
In some cases, drivers are forced to purchase diesel at the current market price due to fleet card restrictions tied to specific oil companies. The situation is expected to worsen towards the end of the month when diesel supplies dwindle.
The government recently announced the retail price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia increased by 70 sen to RM6.72 per litre for a specific period. The price in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan remains at RM2.15 per litre.
