Toll, road tax cuts for buses and taxies

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 - Toll charges for all buses, except at selected border entry points, will be reduced by 50 percent for two years while the road tax for buses and taxis will be slashed to RM20 a year to ease the burden of bus and taxi operators.

The reduction of toll charges, except at border entry points of Johor Causeway, Second Link and Bukit Kayu Hitam, will take effect from Sept 15 this year.

In announcing this today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government would provide compensation to the toll operators for their loss of revenue, estimated at RM45 million yearly.

He said bus operators would also be given sales tax exemption on the purchase of locally assembled new buses and Accelerated Capital Allowance on the expenditure incurred.

Abdullah said the road tax reduction for buses and taxi operators also covers rent-a-car and limousine operators.

He said the government would provide a soft loan facility of RM3 billion under the Transportation Fund, administered by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd, to finance the acquisition of buses and rail assets.

Abdullah also said that the Public Land Transportation Commission would be established under the Prime Minister's Department to plan, integrate, regulate and improve the overall public transportation services.

The single authority, which is expected to commence operations middle of next year, was important to facilitate planning and coordination as well as improve enforcement, he said. - Bernama