30% surcharge likely for balik kampung bus tickets

PETALING JAYA: Those who plan to balik kampung by bus this Hari Raya may have to pay 30% more for their tickets.

Industry sources said the Government had agreed to impose a surcharge on stage and express bus fares from Sept 15 for a month.

Travellers from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru who were paying RM23.90 for a ticket each will now need to pay RM31.07 while those heading to Penang will have to pay RM34.84 instead of RM26.80.

Despite news of the increase, bus operators have yet to start selling tickets for the Hari Raya period as they are waiting for the Government to make an official announcement.

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said they would not sell tickets in advance until they receive official confirmation.

“Otherwise, we don’t know for sure how much the tickets would be sold for or whether we might be penalised for selling at a new price without getting the nod from the authorities,” he said.

Ashfar said they would continue to push for a 100% fare increase, something they had been demanding for since late last year.

“This (30% increase) is just an interim measure. We are led to believe that the figure will be adjusted accordingly,” he said.

He said there might not be a need for a 100% fare hike if the Government announces goodies for the bus industry in Budget 2009.

Among the items asked for by operators are lower taxes for chassis, air-conditioning systems, spare parts, tyres and batteries, as well as the setting up of a fund by the Government to train new bus drivers.

By TEH ENG HOCK - The Star 28 August 2008

Express, stage bus fares up 30% for Raya

KUALA LUMPUR: Express and stage bus operators have been allowed to impose a 30% fare surcharge during the Hari Raya period.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the fare surcharge would come into effect between Sept 15 and Oct 15.

The government has allowed a 30% fare surcharge on express and stage bus tickets this Hari Raya.

He also hinted that bus fares would be raised after Hari Raya.
"If bus operators improve their services during the festive period, then we will consider giving them the fare hike they have been asking for since 2007," he said.
The last time bus fares were raised was in 2005.
Noh also said that fares for premier and executive buses would be liberalised, while the fare for economy class would continue to be controlled.

By TEH ENG HOCK - The Star -28 August 2008

30 tips on how to save fuel ...

1 Drive Smoothly
Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel than safe driving. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as smooth as possible.

2 Use Higher Gears
The higher the gear you drive in the lower your engine speed is, which can improve fuel efficiency. So change up a gear whenever you can, without labouring the engine.

3 Tune and Service Your Engine
A well tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%, so change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

4 Keep Your Tyres at the Right Pressure
Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. A tyre that is under inflated by just 1psi can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3%. An under or over inflated tyre is also more susceptible to failing.

5 Avoid Carrying Excess Weight
For every extra 100 lbs (45 kg) you carry your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2%. So keep your boot or back seat clear of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle.

6 Remove the Roof Rack
If you’re not using your roof rack, then remove it. They affect the aerodynamic efficiency of vehicles and create drag, reducing fuel economy by as much as 5%.

7 Use the Correct Oil
Always use the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant can improve fuel efficiency by 1-2%. Higher quality motor oils can help your engine operate more efficiently.

8 Fuel Matters
All fuels are not created equal. Fuel economy is maximised in the engine through a combination of good driving habits and using the right fuel…one that helps reduce friction and improves cleanliness in the engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency. The Taylors have chosen Shell fuel to power their Guinness World Records as a result of their own personal tests of several commercially-available fuels and their belief in Shell’s product quality.

9 Avoid Excess Idling
Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone, until you need it.


10 Plan Trips Carefully
Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey.

For more tips please log on to : www.fuelacademy.com

Tips on Filling your Vehicles...

I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol... but here in Durban, we are also paying higher, up to 47.35 per litre. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every litre.

Here at the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.

One day is diesel; the next day is jet fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 litres.

ONLY BUY OR FILL UP YOUR CAR OR BIKKIE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THE GROUND TEMPERATURE IS STILL COLD. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your litre is not exactly a litre.

In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an important role. A 1degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

WHEN YOU'RE FILLING UP, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OF THE NOZZLE TO A FAST MODE. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,
middle, and high. In slow mode, you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS IS TO FILL UP WHEN YOUR TANK IS HALF FULL. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.

Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

ANOTHER REMINDER, IF THERE IS A FUEL TRUCK PUMPING INTO THE STORAGE TANKS, WHEN YOU STOP TO BUY, DO NOT FILL UP - most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your money.