KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will look into the possibility of reviewing its decision to increase the departure fee and counter rental at the Inanam bus terminal.
Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said DBKK is willing to discuss with Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (Seboc) who have objected to the move.
“I will look at their reasons before taking any action whether to proceed with the increase or to reduce and review the decision,” he said to reporters after launching the Kota Kinabalu Puspanita 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) here yesterday.
According to Abidin, he would be meeting with members of Seboc and listen to their problems, and he would also explain problems faced by DBKK Holding Sdn. Bhd.
“We have our reasons to increase the rental after six years of operation without increasing the counter rental and departure fee.
“Workers’ salaries have gone up and the electricity and other bills are also up. DBKK Holding Sdn Bhd needs to increase the rental and departure fee to ensure the terminal will operates smoothly.”
The president of Seboc recently made a press statement saying that the Council was strongly against the move by the government, under DBKK Holding Sdn. Bhd., to increase the counter rental in all terminals around the city centre, starting from January 1, otherwise, an increase would be seen in express bus fares, that would burden the passengers.
Its president Datuk Donald Hanapi said an increase of 20 per cent was too high and would burden the express bus operators.
Donald explained that the counter rental had increased from RM500 to RM700, while the departure fees had increased from RM10 to RM15.
Donald also said the Council had appeal to the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) to increase bus fares by 30 per cent to cover their expenses if DBKK Holding Sdn Bhd proceeded with the 20 per cent hike, and also taking into account the increase in price of spare parts, electricity tariff and diesel prices.