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SPAD to introduce operator licence next month
Railwaymen want KTMB to be turned into statutory body
PAS’ Mustafa Ali denies Hasan Ali’s claim

SPAD to introduce operator licence next month

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 05:46 AM PST

MALACCA: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is to introduce the operator licence next month for all operators of land public transport and goods vehicles.

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said Thursday the operator licence was a replacement of the current vehicle licensing based on the need for each vehicle to be licensed.

"Up to now, there have been many licences (a licence for each vehicle), but now (starting January) only one licence is required for many vehicles, even if it is 100 cars, 100 buses or 100 lorries. This is the operator licence," he told Bernama after a meeting with operators of commercial vehicles, here.

Syed Hamid said the new measure would benefit the operators in that they can use any vehicle for all the determined routes, besides the insurance benefit.

He also said that it would make law enforcement more efficient and effective, as action will be taken against the licencee and not the vehicle.

On the RM400mil provided by the government to rescue stage bus services facing financial difficulty, Syed Hamid said the relevant operators can apply for the funds beginning next month.

He said the commission would advertise in the local newspapers on Sunday and Monday the relevant information and eligibility requirements pertaining to the application for funds.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced on Dec 19 the RM400mil allocation to help cash-strapped stage bus operators nationwide in the effort to protect the interests of public transport commuters. - Bernama

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Railwaymen want KTMB to be turned into statutory body

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 02:58 AM PST

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 MYT 6:58:00 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to turn Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) into a statutory body that provides services to the people.

Railwaymen's Union of Malaya (RUM) president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said this would not only help improve KTMB's services but also the welfare of 5,500 employees.

"It will also enable KTMB to lower its charges and fares to clients and passengers, especially low-income earners," he told a news conference here on Thursday to register the union's objection to the proposed acquisition of KTMB by MMC Corporation Bhd.

MMC on Monday confirmed that it had submitted a proposal to the Minister of Finance Incorporated to take over KTMB.

Abdul Razak said RUM was worried about the future of KTMB employees if the acquisition were to take place.

"KTMB is not making profit but it is serving the needs of the people. When a private company takes over, KTMB will be turned into a profit-driven outfit which could lead to retrenchment and reduction of employee benefits to cut cost in order to make money," he said.

Abdul Razak said RUM would send an appeal letter against the acquisition to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. - Bernama

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PAS’ Mustafa Ali denies Hasan Ali’s claim

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 02:54 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali denied party's Gombak assemblyman Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's claim that PAS was losing grassroots support because it had deviated from its original struggle of championing Islam.

However, he did not deny the possibility that fence sitters might have doubts as to where PAS was heading.

Speaking to reporters here Thursday, Mustafa said PAS' main policy of championing Islam remained intact and that its members understood this.

"Islam is PAS' main struggle and this has never changed. It is only the strategies and approach that have changed. PAS' collaboration with other parties is not wrong, the policy remains the same but the approach is different," he said.

On Tuesday, Hasan, who is also a Selangor state executive councillor, had said that he had proof that die-hard PAS supporters were beginning to question the party's struggle and planned to stop backing PAS because it had deviated from its original struggle.

In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also PAS' spiritual leader, also denied that the "welfare state" concept now championed by PAS deviated from Islam.

Hasan had also claimed PAS was deviating from championing Islam by introducing the welfare state concept.

Nik Aziz said the concept only served to further reinforce its Islamic struggle. - Bernama

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Khamis, 22 Disember 2011