KenaSaman.com

KLANG: Rival bus companies plying the routes suspended by Konsortium Transnasional Bhd's Cityliner service are enjoying a boom in business.

At the North Klang bus stand, both Seranas and Wawasan Sutera buses, which used to have to wait for 15 minutes for passengers, were seen to be in high demand.

“The bus fills up very fast now. There is little waiting before we leave. Previously, we used to wait for 15 minutes before leaving. Now, especially at peak hours, we are over capacity,” said a Seranas bus driver who declined to be named.

Wawasan Sutera supervisor Jamal Misawanjani said he had a fleet of 20 buses plying less popular routes such as Westport, Pandamaran, Bayu Perdana and Taman Sentosa.

“To keep costs low, we wait until the bus is full, which is about 15 minutes,” he said, adding that it also faced problems of rising operational costs, with prices of diesel, tyres and spare parts increasing.

“But we can cover the cost. Some days, we may make a loss but we make profits on other days. So, it balances out,” said Jamal, who has been in the industry for 35 years.

Although Konsortium Transnasional suspended most of its Cityliner services in Selangor last month, citing losses due to high operational costs, it continues to ply profitable routes such as the Kuala Lumpur-Klang route.

The suspension in bus services saw passengers having to fork out more for alternative transport.

Albert Kho, 58, said he had to fork out RM40 a day on cab fare to get his two children to school.

The Klang resident, who does not have his own vehicle, said he had been relying on Cityliner to get around until the service was suspended.

“Now that school has resumed, it is even more difficult for me. I have no choice but to send my children to school in Klang in a cab. The cab charges RM20 one way,” said Kho, a former salesman.

“I am without a job now and am desperately looking for a source of income. The bus situation has made my plight worse,” he said, adding that he hoped to find a friend or relative who could help send his children to school.

Factory supervisor R. Saravanan, 42, who lives in Taman Sentosa, said he had to take leave so he could send his two children, aged eight and 13, to school in Klang.

“I only own a motorcycle and my work in Shah Alam starts at 7.45am. So, I can't send them when I'm working,” said Saravanan, adding that he was seriously considering transferring his children to a school nearer his home.

On Dec 19, the Government pledged a RM400mil fund to support troubled stage bus companies for which the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) began receiving applications yesterday.

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