KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi operators still want to raise their fares despite being allowed to buy petrol at a subsidised price.
The entitlement for taxis nationwide to buy unleaded petrol at RM1.92 per litre would not be of much benefit, they said.
From July 27 onwards, all taxis can purchase petrol at the subsidised price up to 720 litres a month after applying for a fleet card from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry office in Putrajaya.
Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operations president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said it did not make any difference and it will not help ease the burden of taxi drivers as the subsidised price of RM1.92 per litre was the old price that they had been getting before the fuel price increase.
“We have been applying to the government to increase the initial fare charges from RM2 to RM3 since last year not because of the fuel price, but due to the rising cost of living.
“The RM1 increase could add to the revenue of a taxi driver who takes 10 passengers a day up by RM10,” he said, adding that this was the only way to help the taxi drivers earn more income.
He said that they would still insist on the raise in the initial fare charges despite the petrol subsidy for taxis.
Koperasi Perisai Perkasa Kuala Lumpur Berhad chairman Rosli Abdullah also agreed with Aslah about the RM3 proposed initial fare charge.
“Though the move by the government is beneficial, it would not make any difference to the majority of city taxi drivers. The subsidy would only help taxi drivers outside the city centre.
“This is because most taxi drivers in the city use NGV unlike outside the city where more taxis run on petrol. Therefore, the only way to help them is by increasing the fare charge,” he said.
Rosli also urged the government to extend the subsidy to diesel-run taxis as there were still taxis using diesel.
Former taxi company operator Asirvatham Jebamoney suggested that instead of subsidising the fuel, the government should come up with other forms of assistance to ease the burden of taxi drivers.
He recommended that the government give a subsidy on vehicles purchased for commercial purposes instead.
By FASLIKA DAS & VIJENTHI NAIR BAILAND
The Star - 20 July 2008
The entitlement for taxis nationwide to buy unleaded petrol at RM1.92 per litre would not be of much benefit, they said.
From July 27 onwards, all taxis can purchase petrol at the subsidised price up to 720 litres a month after applying for a fleet card from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry office in Putrajaya.
Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operations president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said it did not make any difference and it will not help ease the burden of taxi drivers as the subsidised price of RM1.92 per litre was the old price that they had been getting before the fuel price increase.
“We have been applying to the government to increase the initial fare charges from RM2 to RM3 since last year not because of the fuel price, but due to the rising cost of living.
“The RM1 increase could add to the revenue of a taxi driver who takes 10 passengers a day up by RM10,” he said, adding that this was the only way to help the taxi drivers earn more income.
He said that they would still insist on the raise in the initial fare charges despite the petrol subsidy for taxis.
Koperasi Perisai Perkasa Kuala Lumpur Berhad chairman Rosli Abdullah also agreed with Aslah about the RM3 proposed initial fare charge.
“Though the move by the government is beneficial, it would not make any difference to the majority of city taxi drivers. The subsidy would only help taxi drivers outside the city centre.
“This is because most taxi drivers in the city use NGV unlike outside the city where more taxis run on petrol. Therefore, the only way to help them is by increasing the fare charge,” he said.
Rosli also urged the government to extend the subsidy to diesel-run taxis as there were still taxis using diesel.
Former taxi company operator Asirvatham Jebamoney suggested that instead of subsidising the fuel, the government should come up with other forms of assistance to ease the burden of taxi drivers.
He recommended that the government give a subsidy on vehicles purchased for commercial purposes instead.
By FASLIKA DAS & VIJENTHI NAIR BAILAND
The Star - 20 July 2008
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