Daily Express 16/06/2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Prime Minister has issued a directive to the relevant Ministries to look into expanding the coverage or increasing the quota for transportation companies to buy subsidised fuel, said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Mohamed Nor Yakcop.
He assured that the Government was focusing on the transportation sector following the recent fuel price hike.
He was asked to comment on grouses by transportation companies that not all of their vehicles are eligible to use the fleet card to purchase fuel at subsidised prices with some companies complaining only 30 to 40 per cent of their vehicles actually qualify.
Speaking after representing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the launching of the Second International CEOs Conference (ICC2008) at Magellan Sutera here Monday, he said the rural transportation sector would be getting a big chunk in the Federal 2009 Budget.
Mohamed Nor said the Government was giving special attention to bringing development in terms of basic infrastructures and schools in rural areas like in Sabah and Sarawak.
"But, in order to achieve the aspiration of the Prime Minister (and) he has mentioned this several times that he does not want to see any abject poor incidence after year 2010," he said.
The goal, according Mohamed Nor was being tackled by building better roads in rural areas as well as urban areas where traffic jams are causing manpower losses.
To a question, he said the RM4.4 billion saved from the fuel subsidy cut was not the only money that could be used to improve the public transportation sector.
"It is only one of the ways É but for transportation we are taking it out from the Consolidated Fund. The RM4.4 billion is not that much really, we have about RM147 billion revenue annually and we are using this," he said.
"We have the political will at this moment É because the price of fuel has increased so the transportation sector is priority," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman in his welcoming speech said the ICC2008 followed the success of the inaugural conference in March 2005.
"I am pleased to share with you that the First International CEOs Conference three years ago had paved the way for several major investments in Sabah," said Musa who is also the organising chairman of ICC2008.
During the course of the conference, themed "Managing Sustainable Growth and Competitiveness in the Globalised Era", he was confident that the delegates would ponder and debate on how competition serves as the driving force of economic growth.
"Carefully designed policies on de-regulation, privatisation and trade liberalisation are important ingredients in enhancing competition," said Musa who is also State Finance Minister.
He said in order to ensure successful implementation initiatives aimed at improving competitiveness, there is a need to provide the appropriate incentives, adequate infrastructure and clear regulations in ensuring that competition would lead to efficiency and stimulate innovation.
The government on its part, he assured would continue to be business-friendly and responsive in dealing with the private sector and would keep on finding ways to create a conducive economic climate for businesses to flourish in Sabah.
"We also realise the importance of infrastructure as a tool to encourage competitiveness and growth," he said, reiterating that the State government through the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) had set a priority in ensuring sustainable development through environmental conservation.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Notice of the First Annual General Meeting
Date & Time of Meeting : 14th June, 2008 at 11:30a.m.
Venue : Premise of Persatuan Pemandu dan Pemilik Lori Daerah Tawau
In accordance with the Constitution of the Associations, Article 15, notice is hereby given to members to attend the first Annual General Meeting.
Agenda
To receive the council's report on the workings and activities of the Association for the previous year;
To receive the Treasurer's report and the audited accounts of the Association for the previous year;
To elect a Committee and appoint auditors for the 2 year term 2008/2009;
To approve the Association's Budget for the ensuing year 2008;
Motion :
(i) To propose amendment to Article 12(b) of the principal officers of the council to expand from six council members to nine council members;
(ii)To propose amendment to the designations of the council members as follows:-
From Chairman to President
From Deputy Chairman to Deputy President
From Vice Chairman to Vice President
From Secretary to Secretary General
From Assistant Secretary to Assistant Secretary General
From Treasurer to Treasurer General & include three council members; and
(iii) To propose the formation of East Malaysia Lorry Association, jointly with Sarawak Hire Lorry Association and Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations
Adrian Ho Su Fah
Protem Secretary
Venue : Premise of Persatuan Pemandu dan Pemilik Lori Daerah Tawau
In accordance with the Constitution of the Associations, Article 15, notice is hereby given to members to attend the first Annual General Meeting.
Agenda
To receive the council's report on the workings and activities of the Association for the previous year;
To receive the Treasurer's report and the audited accounts of the Association for the previous year;
To elect a Committee and appoint auditors for the 2 year term 2008/2009;
To approve the Association's Budget for the ensuing year 2008;
Motion :
(i) To propose amendment to Article 12(b) of the principal officers of the council to expand from six council members to nine council members;
(ii)To propose amendment to the designations of the council members as follows:-
From Chairman to President
From Deputy Chairman to Deputy President
From Vice Chairman to Vice President
From Secretary to Secretary General
From Assistant Secretary to Assistant Secretary General
From Treasurer to Treasurer General & include three council members; and
(iii) To propose the formation of East Malaysia Lorry Association, jointly with Sarawak Hire Lorry Association and Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations
Adrian Ho Su Fah
Protem Secretary
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Lorrymen hike rates 45pc
Daily Express 7th June, 2008
Sandakan: The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations (FSLTA) decided Friday to increase transportation rates by 45 per cent with immediate effect.
Its President Steven Chua Pui Ming told a press conference that if there was any further increase in the diesel price, the FSLTA would determine the rates to avoid business closure due to operational losses.
"We are alarmed by the Government's move to hike the price of diesel by RM1 to RM2.584 per litre on June 5. This is the biggest increase in fuel prices ever in the history of Malaysia."
According to him, vague guidelines on the fleet card fuel subsidy by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry reflected the inability of the Government to resolve the issue.
The subsidy is restricted to certain types of vehicles such as containers, haulage for electronic products, rice and food produce among others.
"Sabah is in the process of infrastructure development. A large number of trucks and heavy machinery is required to transport steel bars, cement, sand and stones from ports/plants to construction sites throughout Sabah.
"Similarly development of huge oil palm plantations and existing estates require fertilisers, machinery, diesel, etc, and the above developments rely on large amounts of diesel to operate.
"Sabah is an oil and gas producing State and the palm oil industry is also benefiting the Government in terms of huge tax collection.
"But it is not apparent that the subsidy can benefit Sabah. Only a small sector of transportation operators of consumer products are benefiting from the subsidy and limited to 1,800 to 2,160 litres of diesel per month per truck (enough to cover two trips from KK to Sandakan). How can the subsidy have any impact on the operational cost of transportation operators?," he asked.
FSLTA called on the government to liberalise the diesel fuel subsidy to include all types of trucks as geographically Sabah is different from Peninsular Malaysia.
Chua pointed out that the 63 per cent increase in diesel price over the previous price and the Government's intention to float fuel prices may aggravate the problem.
The price of lorry spare parts are up by 100 per cent, batteries, by 180 per cent and steel materials for trailers by 400 per cent. Imagine the heavy burden that the transportation operators have to bear, he said.
Sandakan: The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations (FSLTA) decided Friday to increase transportation rates by 45 per cent with immediate effect.
Its President Steven Chua Pui Ming told a press conference that if there was any further increase in the diesel price, the FSLTA would determine the rates to avoid business closure due to operational losses.
"We are alarmed by the Government's move to hike the price of diesel by RM1 to RM2.584 per litre on June 5. This is the biggest increase in fuel prices ever in the history of Malaysia."
According to him, vague guidelines on the fleet card fuel subsidy by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry reflected the inability of the Government to resolve the issue.
The subsidy is restricted to certain types of vehicles such as containers, haulage for electronic products, rice and food produce among others.
"Sabah is in the process of infrastructure development. A large number of trucks and heavy machinery is required to transport steel bars, cement, sand and stones from ports/plants to construction sites throughout Sabah.
"Similarly development of huge oil palm plantations and existing estates require fertilisers, machinery, diesel, etc, and the above developments rely on large amounts of diesel to operate.
"Sabah is an oil and gas producing State and the palm oil industry is also benefiting the Government in terms of huge tax collection.
"But it is not apparent that the subsidy can benefit Sabah. Only a small sector of transportation operators of consumer products are benefiting from the subsidy and limited to 1,800 to 2,160 litres of diesel per month per truck (enough to cover two trips from KK to Sandakan). How can the subsidy have any impact on the operational cost of transportation operators?," he asked.
FSLTA called on the government to liberalise the diesel fuel subsidy to include all types of trucks as geographically Sabah is different from Peninsular Malaysia.
Chua pointed out that the 63 per cent increase in diesel price over the previous price and the Government's intention to float fuel prices may aggravate the problem.
The price of lorry spare parts are up by 100 per cent, batteries, by 180 per cent and steel materials for trailers by 400 per cent. Imagine the heavy burden that the transportation operators have to bear, he said.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Costlier Transport Certain
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS 5th June, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: Taxi, bus and lorry operators in the State have begun clamouring for an upward revision of fares to offset Wednesday's sudden hefty fuel price hike.
A Daily Express random survey showed some taxis to be already quoting higher rates while bus operators say they will be out of business if fares are not raised from the present 10 sen per km to 16 sen.
The busmen said this is necessary to cushion the impact of the 78 sen and RM1 increase, respectively, in the prices of petrol and diesel as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi .
Public transport fares are regulated by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB). Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) President Donald Hanafi said express bus operators were hardest hit by the move that saw the diesel price going up from RM1.58 to RM2.58 per litre. Petrol went up from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre.
In an immediate reaction, all express bus operators have decided to stop providing free "nasi campur" and bottle of drinking water jointly worth RM4 to passengers.
"If the Government does not do anything, at least 40 per cent of express bus operators in Sabah will have to close shop," he said at the Inanam Terminal, Thursday.
Donald said they had an emergency meeting shortly after the price hike was announced, which they described as a total surprise due to the sudden manner and quantum of increase, which was more than 60 per cent.
"On behalf of express bus operators I am urging the Government to look into our plight seriously especially the CVLB to consider revising the rate of our fare.
"It will be disastrous to continue operating at the present rate without taking into account the huge fuel price hike. Besides, it has been four years since the rate has been reviewed," he said. A full tank for an express bus means filling up 310 litres of diesel, which based on the new price is equivalent to a whopping RM799.80.
"We might just break even if the fare is upped to 16 sen per km."
He also said long-haul bus operators face a different situation in Sabah compared to their counterparts in the peninsula where road conditions are better.
"Sabah roads are not that good and we have to shoulder extra cost in maintenance since tyres, suspension and other parts wear out quicker and unexpectedly," he said.
He said if the Government does not allow the fare hike then it should consider giving special exemption to express bus operators from the new price.
"If there is no immediate answer from the Government we will have to find ways and means to get the CVLB to listen to us. We really hope the Government will be considerate and find a quick solution to our problem."
Sabah West Coast Taxi Operators Association President Wong Nyuk Ming urged the Government to do something to offset ballooning operational costs following the latest development.
"We hope the Government will allow us to raise fares that have only been revised once in the past 25 years," he said.
Wong said that fare revision was to cater to the use of meters where the starting price was fixed at RM1.40.
"We were asked to charge RM1 per kilometre in 1983 and today we are still being asked to charge the same rate," he lamented.
"With the sky high fuel price hike how can we make ends meet?," he said.
The association has about 500 registered members.
Wong said while the use of taxi meters is mandatory, most passengers, including tourists, preferred to pay based on an earlier agreed sum rather than using the meter.
The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations (FSLTA) said it would be reviewing charges. Its Sec-Gen Adrian Ho said an increase was inevitable. "We have maintained our pricing since 2006 despite the increase in the cost of related items.
"For instance, the price of battery has gone up by 200 per cent. But our charges remained because we never anticipated that fuel price will increase drastically. We did not want to raise bit by bit because we know it would annoy our customers."
He said FSLTA held a meeting on Wednesday night following the announcement to gauge the direct impact of the new pricing.
"We will be meeting again to look at a number of things, including the cost of spare parts. Basically, we will look at additional costs for operations because a RM1 increase constitutes a substantial amount not only in terms of fuel."
Kota Kinabalu: Taxi, bus and lorry operators in the State have begun clamouring for an upward revision of fares to offset Wednesday's sudden hefty fuel price hike.
A Daily Express random survey showed some taxis to be already quoting higher rates while bus operators say they will be out of business if fares are not raised from the present 10 sen per km to 16 sen.
The busmen said this is necessary to cushion the impact of the 78 sen and RM1 increase, respectively, in the prices of petrol and diesel as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi .
Public transport fares are regulated by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB). Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) President Donald Hanafi said express bus operators were hardest hit by the move that saw the diesel price going up from RM1.58 to RM2.58 per litre. Petrol went up from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre.
In an immediate reaction, all express bus operators have decided to stop providing free "nasi campur" and bottle of drinking water jointly worth RM4 to passengers.
"If the Government does not do anything, at least 40 per cent of express bus operators in Sabah will have to close shop," he said at the Inanam Terminal, Thursday.
Donald said they had an emergency meeting shortly after the price hike was announced, which they described as a total surprise due to the sudden manner and quantum of increase, which was more than 60 per cent.
"On behalf of express bus operators I am urging the Government to look into our plight seriously especially the CVLB to consider revising the rate of our fare.
"It will be disastrous to continue operating at the present rate without taking into account the huge fuel price hike. Besides, it has been four years since the rate has been reviewed," he said. A full tank for an express bus means filling up 310 litres of diesel, which based on the new price is equivalent to a whopping RM799.80.
"We might just break even if the fare is upped to 16 sen per km."
He also said long-haul bus operators face a different situation in Sabah compared to their counterparts in the peninsula where road conditions are better.
"Sabah roads are not that good and we have to shoulder extra cost in maintenance since tyres, suspension and other parts wear out quicker and unexpectedly," he said.
He said if the Government does not allow the fare hike then it should consider giving special exemption to express bus operators from the new price.
"If there is no immediate answer from the Government we will have to find ways and means to get the CVLB to listen to us. We really hope the Government will be considerate and find a quick solution to our problem."
Sabah West Coast Taxi Operators Association President Wong Nyuk Ming urged the Government to do something to offset ballooning operational costs following the latest development.
"We hope the Government will allow us to raise fares that have only been revised once in the past 25 years," he said.
Wong said that fare revision was to cater to the use of meters where the starting price was fixed at RM1.40.
"We were asked to charge RM1 per kilometre in 1983 and today we are still being asked to charge the same rate," he lamented.
"With the sky high fuel price hike how can we make ends meet?," he said.
The association has about 500 registered members.
Wong said while the use of taxi meters is mandatory, most passengers, including tourists, preferred to pay based on an earlier agreed sum rather than using the meter.
The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Associations (FSLTA) said it would be reviewing charges. Its Sec-Gen Adrian Ho said an increase was inevitable. "We have maintained our pricing since 2006 despite the increase in the cost of related items.
"For instance, the price of battery has gone up by 200 per cent. But our charges remained because we never anticipated that fuel price will increase drastically. We did not want to raise bit by bit because we know it would annoy our customers."
He said FSLTA held a meeting on Wednesday night following the announcement to gauge the direct impact of the new pricing.
"We will be meeting again to look at a number of things, including the cost of spare parts. Basically, we will look at additional costs for operations because a RM1 increase constitutes a substantial amount not only in terms of fuel."
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