TO COUNTER FUEL PRICE HIKE

THREE MEASURES TO IMPROVE AND REDUCE COST OFPUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Drastic measures must be taken to further cushion the impact of the drastic increase in fuel prices so as to reduce the burden on the common people.

Criticising the fuel price increase as too severe and too sudden, Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, proposed three (3) immediate measures to improve and reduce the cost of public transportation.

First, abolish road tax and issue more licences for taxis, school buses and factory buses.

Second, increase the number of buses for Rapid Penang, Rapid KL and provide soft loans to private bus companies for the purchase of more buses.

Through these two (2) measures, we can increase supply, cushion cost and encourage a switch to public transportation.

Third, to further reduce the road tax for three (3) years for private vehicle owners who choose to convert to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), as well as increasing supply of CNG and LPG in all petrol stations and breaking the monopoly by Petronas.

Similarly, all taxis and buses should be given grants and zero-interest loans to convert to CNG and LPG.

These three (3) measures must be implemented immediately and efficiently.