SIBU: Bus operators here are requesting for permanent information counters to display travel time and for the convenience of passengers and tourists.
Pelawan assemblyman Michael Tiang Ming Tee said the operators claimed a few meetings had been done regarding the request.
“The operators said that many years ago, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), Sarawak Bus Transport Companies Association and Sibu Taxi Owners Association had once agreed to renovate the station after having a few meetings.
“The operators also emphasised that the last time the bus fare increased was in 2009. The association had applied to have the fare increased many times, but none of the application was approved.
“At the same time, for the past 13 years, the wages, bus maintenance work and so forth had increased between 30 per cent to 60 per cent,” he said today.
“Because of that, 18 out of 30 bus companies in Sarawak had no choice but to close because they were unable to cope.”
Tiang had attended a dialogue with bus operators here on Thursday (March 10) to understand the current problems faced by them.
The bus operators put forward eight issues in which five involved stage buses and three involved express buses.
Currently, there are only 12 express bus companies left and only the RM1 ticket scheme implemented by the Sarawak government kept the stage bus operators going.
“However, the subsidy was not given to express bus operators and the operators hoped that the Sarawak government would not stop giving the subsidies.”
Tiang said the operators also mentioned that most people have their own cars or at least a motorcycle therefore, bus services only catered to the middle-income group and lower-income group.
“The operators believed these two groups still need the bus services.
“As for the long-distance operators, they complained that the parking lot at the bus terminal was often parked by long vehicles.”
Tiang, who is also Deputy Minister II for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, agreed that this was not fair to the operators who pay rent and he hoped the relevant authorities would take this matter seriously.
“Take action on those vehicles who take up the space and maybe give operators free parking.”
He also hoped that SMC would upgrade the parking space, which is sinking, at the bus terminal.
