Minister explains why bus fares cannot remain unchanged
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Minister explains why bus fares cannot remain unchanged
"Transport Minister Raymond Lim commented on the bus fare hike during his visit to Thomson division of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on Sunday, 7 Oct 07. He urged Singaporeans not to politicise the issue.
If fares were to be frozen, the bus service standards will suffer, according to Mr Lim. He cited other countriesÂ’ experiences and when governments give in to such pressures, the service standards would deteriorate.
The reason: bus companies, unable to afford new buses, will have a shrinking fleet, resulting in overcrowding. As the situation worsens, people will complain to the government, which will feel compelled to raise fares.
Freezing fares will be a popular move, but it would not be a responsible thing to do, he added.
Responding to a residentÂ’s comment that the two public-listed companies, SBS and SMRT, look out for their shareholders and not the commuters, Mr Lim said even if the government takes over the running of the public transport companies, fares will still rise, and either the user or taxpayer pays for the increase."
I wonder why the $56.1 million in net profit for FY06 is not enough for new buses? Are new busses that expensive? Maybe they are built with carbon-fiber bodies, with cutting-edge F1 technology in the engines?
It's not as if every single bus in Singapore is air-conditioned with comfy leather seats. It's not as if the bus-captains are earning ever increasing salaries. I believe the public would accept it more willingly if the reason for the raise was to better compensate the bus-captains. They aren't earning much and work long hours even on public holidays. Surely the raises should go to helping them out? Why is it ending up in retained earnings then?
Seriously, with replies like this, they are really inviting criticism. The only believable line there is that either way, the citizens pay. -
they gotta answer to shareholders
so LL loh.... -
of cos cannot remain lah... all the fat cat's salary can remain unchanged or not u tell mi lor
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Huh i don't understand the explanations, so all i gotta say is.. Thanks but no thanks
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wrong, itz the wifes of these shareholders..Originally posted by FireIce:they gotta answer to shareholders
so LL loh.... -
All he's saying is that the service standards will go down if the fares don't continue its uphill climb.Originally posted by Boy Stratus:Huh i don't understand the explanations, so all i gotta say is.. Thanks but no thanks
He's also saying that at the end of the day, the citizens really are the one paying. It's just a question of it being out of your left or your right pocket. It still is gonna come out. Soon, it'll be out of our nose. -
at least he couldn't tell a lie with a straight face
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Lol im being sarcastic :p Because the explanations doesn't help just the fare riseOriginally posted by Othello_Red:All he's saying is that the service standards will go down if the fares don't continue its uphill climb.
He's also saying that at the end of the day, the citizens really are the one paying. It's just a question of it being out of your left or your right pocket. It still is gonna come out. Soon, it'll be out of our nose. So, i don't understand it :p -
Seriously, I'd really really love to use another word in place of "explanation".Originally posted by Boy Stratus:Lol im being sarcastic :p Because the explanations doesn't help just the fare rise So, i don't understand it :p
Starts with E as well. No prizes for getting it right.
But yeah, come to think of it, I don't understand the excuses, I mean explanations as well. -
Ask him to show us the so call "SBS standards"?
He hopes that we will not complain so his VAS will get more lar. -
They are paid so much to give excuses and raise bus fares ...
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For a million dollar poodle who does not use the public transport, how he comprehend the "increase" in service standard means:
- Increasing in bus waiting time. (To be further mobbed by a white elephant electronic display)
- Increasing in standing cos it is alway over-crowded.
- Increase in bus breakdown cos bus not properly maintained.
- Increase in miscalculation of bus fare. (Over-sight ? Move on ?) -
Why minister's salaries cannot remain UNchanged as well ? Why the starting salary in Singapore have not changed in the last 15 years?
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because their standard will drop....Originally posted by NotFromVenus:Why minister's salaries cannot remain UNchanged as well ? Why the starting salary in Singapore have not changed in the last 15 years? -
Originally posted by dragg:because their standard will drop....
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sounds very familiar..
they always use the same excuse change abit can use again.
-ministers salary increase, cos scared later our ministers become corrupt.
-gst hike, cos scared the FDIs leave us
-bus fare increase, cos scared service standards drop. -
I say, dun freeze the bus fares, freeze the ministers fares instead
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wad can we do
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but service still the same ley......from last time they increase the fare, i don see any significant improvements in terms of bus frequency, comfort and so on......
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Originally posted by cloud210:I say, dun freeze the bus fares, freeze the ministers fares instead
Good one. -
sigh.... can we suggest all our ministers use public transport for 1 mth.... see how they take it
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wat service do they provide? they just drive the bus, stop bus, open door, close door. i dont see them providing foot massage, stock advices, financial consultancy...
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Seriously, I feel that with the kind of profit margins they have, they really should be giving something back to the community.
Maybe they can pay their drivers and lower-level staff a bit better. These aunties and uncles don't have much choice in jobs and I'd bet the job is positively mind-numbing. It doesn't help that people have started to treat them as punching bags. Pay them a bit more. Use your profits that way.
Else, improve the fleet. Look for environmentally-friendly busses and invest in them. Invest in R & D to develop such busses. Do something for the environment. -
FYI, $56mil can only fetch you 140 buses.Originally posted by Othello_Red:I wonder why the $56.1 million in net profit for FY06 is not enough for new buses? Are new busses that expensive? Maybe they are built with carbon-fiber bodies, with cutting-edge F1 technology in the engines?
However, it is right that tpt companies shld never be made to run privately. Imagine that taxpayer's money could have gone into subsidizing fares.