PUBLIC TRANSPORTS ISSUES

It's a MAS fare galore

The Borneo Post reported Saturday, 28 February, 2009, that the MAS is introducing its' low fare galore valid within 12 days from today. This is a bold move to realize the campaign 'now everyone can fly' with MAS at particular time. I hope, it will continue to give such discounts for the benefit of the travellers. This is a sign that MAS is showing a caring attitude management towards the need of the people where it realize making excessive profit is not really matter as long as it still gains. Its' Managing Director is pledging to continue with cost-saving measures that I think is good at maintaining a good return for the company. I hope that it will not squeeze the people's pocket during this hardtime around, making their life unmanageable. For the 30 airlines that failed, I think they should be prudent with spending and be brave enough to increase the fares to cover the loss.


MAS makes profits despite trying times

The TV3 news at 9 p.m. on February 26, 2009, and The Star on February 27, 2009, reported the MAS Managing Director Datuk Seri Idris Jala was saying that MAS couldn't make much profit as targeted and informed that MAS was making about RM244m in 2008. However, I see that it can still make tens of millions bucks in the last quarter even during the economic downturn. The profit is an achievement that they can be proud of, so I believe the management can do much to ease the burden of the travellers who frequent the MAS flights. Its' rival AIRASIA has been giving far cheaper fares than the MAS and still making some profit. I think the manager should not just look at making so much profit until it forgets the burden that the travellers face in moving around in the air. The managing Director went on to stress his achievement by comparing with other world airlines which are being wiped out from the planet. The survival is simply to raise the fare during hard times for the travellers who have no alternative modes of transport going to another continents. In this surviaval for the fittest, can we just say say, 'if you cannot afford it, why not turn to another one, our rival?' I feel that the best that the failed airlines can do is to raise the fares and let the travellers have loud cries. Yet, they seemed still hold to their old fares and flooped. Why can't they just copy what the MAS had done in its success story here. I think, we need to review the fare. The MAS can give much cheaper fare if the management allows their profit to fall by half. I notice that the domestic flight in Sarawak is far too expensive to afford. For example, a Kuching-Miri route costs RM380 whereby it was only RM180 before the present Managing Director took over. This fare needs to be reviewed seriously! It's simply not enough just to focus on huge profit alone while the passengers are crying loud. Now the fuel falls low and I see no reason for not lowering the fares in the coming years.


Higher taxi fares soon

Reported in The Borneo Post June 5th, 2009, taking a taxi will cost more from next month according to the proposal by CVLB. The taxis are smiling as this would mean some increase in their incomes. This also means the poor passengers will have to help in elevating the income hike of the taxi men. For the regular passengers who use taxis frequently, this is a real extra burden. Just imagine a distance from the KIA to the housing estate which is less than 3km, a passenger has to pay RM22.00. This fare was the result of the last fuel hike. Now the fuel has decreased but the passengers still have to pay the same fare. It's quite difficult for the fare to go down in line with the reduction of petrol price. They are comfortable with it and earn much more now. When another fuel hike comes, the taxis will once again ask for another hike. It seems that there is no sign that the fare will go down. I would reduce using taxi today. I prefer to seek my friend to pick me and cheer him with a good breakfast that cost much less than a taxi fare. If there is another fuel hike, I think the taxi will request for another hike. This has been happening. Taking a taxi is quite scary and one can be charged so much. Increase fare means people become less interested in the taxi no matter how good the service.

The same for the price of food at the eateries. All kolo mee, kampua mee, etc have increased a lot as a result of the last fuel price hike. Now the fuel has reduced but the customers still pay the same price. Most vendors never willing to reduce prices in line with fuel hike although there have not been any hike in the flour. Anyway, customers should reduce going to such eateries and be hardworking enough to eat at home. The price of instant noodles has increased significantly. A 5 pieces noodles cost RM2.50 but now it costs RM4.20, and likewise some crackers. The customers really feel the pinch. I reduce buying these itmes today.


Toll increase: PM asks cabinet to consider

The TV3 news 9 p.m. tonight(26 Feb. 2009) and The Star February 27, 2009, reported that certain toll plazas were closed while maintaining the others. The toll rate was increased after considering the economy downturn that affects the toll concessionaires. The rates were considered as minimal even after the increase and hope that the people would understand that the increases were stipulated in the concession agreements the Government had agreed. Many people interviewed did not agree as they are already being badly affected by the current economic downtown. Why do we have to increase it when the people are experiencing hardship to meet the day end need.People are against it and so the MPs from across the political divide. Some people do not feel the pinch from the increase because they never pay for the toll. But once they are in the position like an ordinary people, they know how bad is the pinch. We cannot allow exploitation of the people while trying to fatten someone and burden the people. The toll increase would increase the financial burden of the people at the time when many of them are facing economic difficulties and job losses.Once someone faces hardship, he will pass the buck to the users mercilessly considering the worst has come their way in facing the threat to their income. It looks so attractive to increase toll when one toll plaza is close while maintaining the other busy ones. If the toll is increased, the heavy users will still be the victims and it will only solves the problem of the concessionaires. That's just 'sambil menyelam meminum air'. It's simply not the right time for any increase during this economic downturn just to compensate the loss which aggravate further the cry of the people. It's good that the Government is caring enough to propose the defer of the new toll rates for the good of the road users.