The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is set to announce the new taxi fare structure this week and the new rate is expected to see a 40% increase to the current fares.
According to Malay Mail the new rates for metered taxis will see an increase for the flag-down fares, distances and time charges. The proposed new rates for metered taxis in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bharu would be:
1. Flag-down fare — RM3.30 for budget cabs
2. Flag-down fare — RM4.00 for Teksi 1 Malaysia (TEKS1M)
3. Flag-down fare — RM4.30 for budget cab in Penang
4. 25 sen for every 200m (40 per cent increase)
5. 25 sen for every 30 seconds (40 per cent increase)
6. The current flag-down rates for budget taxis are RM3 for Klang Valley and Johor Baru and RM4 for Penang while the rates for TEKS1M is presently RM3.
The current distance charge and time charge are 87 sen per km and 10 sen per 21 seconds respectively. The new rates will, however, see consumers paying RM1.25 per km. This can add-up significantly especially if you are stuck in the city traffic as the meter would clock RM1.25 per km and RM30 per hour.
According to SPAD, the new rates took into consideration that for the past six years, the cost of living has gone up by around 2.5% each year where cabbies have had to bear the burden of high costs such as escalating maintenance costs, fuel expenses, battery and tyres.
With the new fare, cabbies are also encouraged to go into the city centre instead of circling suburban areas as they can no longer come up with excuses of refusing to drive to certain locations due to heavy traffic.
A source from the Prime Minister’s Department said SPAD wanted to announce the new fares last October but was instructed by the government to put it on hold until end of last year. However, floods in the east coast and northern states over the end of December also delayed the plan. SPAD wanted to announce it by the end of January but it was not the right moment in view of the fuel price reduction since New Year’s day.
So apparently, the government thinks that the announcement just before the GST kicks in next month is the perfect timing?
Source: Malay Mail online
