Sabah situation different, says lorry association
May 20, 2011, KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Sabah Lorry Transportation Association (FSLTA) has voiced sadness over the government’s decision to abolish the super diesel subsidy for commercial vehicles next month.
Its secretary general, Adrian Ho when contacted yesterday said as a state lorry association, they are representing the lorry associations of West Coast, Sandakan and Tawau to appeal to the relevant ministry to reconsider the decision.
“The gross vehicle weight (BDM) allowed in Sabah is very different from the Peninsular. The maximum BDM allowed in Peninsular is 53,000 kilograms and whereas for Sabah it is restricted to 38,000 kilograms, irrespective of the number of axle configurations.
“This difference in weight between Sabah and Peninsular creates disadvantages in terms of lesser payload, higher unit cost, higher operating cost and other aspects,” said Ho.
He said the road tax is also very different between Sabah and Peninsular.
Ho said in Peninsular a prime mover can pull seven units of container trailers, with RM1,200 road tax per year for prime mover and seven units of container trailers are not listed.
However, it is different in Sabah, where with the same configuration, the road tax is RM2,448 times for seven units of container trailers per annum. The total road tax is RM 17,136 per annum.
Apart from the road tax, Ho also said the cost of spare parts and tyres are normally 30 per cent more higher in the state than in Peninsular.
He said the under-developed infrastructure and roads coupled with mountain terrains made it more costly to operate commercial vehicles in Sabah.
According to Ho, the federation has sent a letter to the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on the issue.
FSLTA is hoping the government will not abolish the the diesel subsidy.
Harap kerajaan akan mengambil berat tentang kesukaran rakyat Sabah sebelum mengambil sesuatu tindakan.
BalasPadamPenghapusan subsidi minyak dan diesel ini akan menambah beban kepada rakyat terutamanya rakyat miskin.
BalasPadamkerajaan kena mengambil kira kesukarn hidup penduduk terutama di Sabah sebelum membuat pemotongan subsidi.
BalasPadamharap pekara ini akan diberikan perhatian dan pertimbangan yang sewajarnya.
BalasPadamsemoga hasil positif akan diperoleh nanti.
BalasPadammemang tak wajar jika Sabah disamakan dengan Semenanjung dalam hal ini. kerajaan kenalah ambil kira keadaan-keadaan yang dihadapi di Sabah ni. sudahlah Sabah jadi negeri termiskin, subsidi pun dihapuskan pula.
BalasPadamMemang beban akan diterima, bukan saja pembawa lori tapi rakyat juga akan terbeban. Apa pun kita juga haruslah memikirkan keadaan ekonomi global sekarang ini. Keadaan yang tidak stabil menyebabkan kerajaan bertindak mengurangkan subsidi yang diberikan kepada barang-barang tertentu.
BalasPadamharap-harap kerajaan pertimbangkan dulu tentang penghapusan subsidi diesel ni.
BalasPadamApa tindakkan kerajaan pasti ada baik dan buruknya. Tapi perkara ini dilakukan secara berperingkat-peringkat. Kerajaan juga perlulah memikirkan cara lain untuk membantu rakyat dan mengurangkan beban rakyat.
BalasPadamApa la nasib Sabah ni. Mungkin sampai kering kontang Sabah ni baru puas hati.
BalasPadamHarap kerajaan akan mempertimabangkan masalah yang bakal dihadapi rakyat jika memansuhkan subsidi minyak.
BalasPadampenyelesaian yang paling baik ialah samakan dahulu semenanjung dengan Sabah sebelum bertindak menarik balik subsidi. tolong bersikap adil kepada rakyat Sabah.. Sabah juga banyak menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara.
BalasPadamI don't think its wise for the government to abolish the super diesel subsidy for commercial vehicles next month.
BalasPadamI hope the government will reconsider their decision. Please be fair to Sabah.
BalasPadam