SPAD looking to solve stage bus problems

By SPAD

The Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (S.P.A.D.) is looking at several options which will solve the problems faced by stage bus operators in the country.

S.P.A.D. Chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the proposals have been shared with the operators and their feedback has been obtained.

“The solutions however involve tough choices and possibly huge trade-offs. It involves issues such as fares, funding and subsidies. We hope to be able to find the best possible solution to move forward,” he added.

Syed Hamid said S.P.A.D. was very aware of the problems faced by the bus industry and the Commission has been engaging with operators and associations representing operators since the day the Commission was formed in order to find solutions to the problems.

“All parties realize that there is no easy solution to the problems. That is why the problem cannot be solved overnight,” he said. S.P.A.D. will present the options to the government for approval.

Under the current tough operating environment, Syed Hamid also urged bus operators to try and ensure that their operations were at the most efficient level. He hoped that the operators will scrutinize their internal processes and also plug any leakages which may be occurring.

On the situation in Negeri Sembilan where bus services for several routes have been terminated, Syed Hamid said as an interim measure, S.P.A.D is currently talking to various bus operators to ask them to step in to provide bus services on those routes as an interim measure.

Syed Hamid said the utmost priority at the moment was to ensure that members of the public who relied on those bus services do not suffer because the termination of bus services.

“We need to get buses running along those routes. We have spoken to various operators to ask them to try and step in immediately as an interim measure,” Syed Hamid said.

Syed Hamid said S.P.A.D. has called for a meeting with Konsortium Transnasional Berhad, the owner of Cityliner which served those routes in Negeri Sembilan, on Friday, 18 November 2011, to discuss its decision to stop operations.

“We want to deal with the short, medium and long-term solutions it is facing,” he added.