Bus operators urge govt to continue moratorium without conditions

KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Bus Operators' Association has urged the government to consider continuing the moratorium to all bus operators without conditions until the Covid-19 pandemic in the country is over.

Its president, Che Ibrahim Che Ismail said the association also appealed that the moratorium be extended to loans from credit companies and not only banking institutions.

‘'The imposition of interests as a result of rescheduling of loans from banks and credit companies should also be exempted and its implementation must be directly monitored by Bank Negara Malaysia or government agencies deemed suitable,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Che Ibrahim said the association also sought that the implementation of the Bus Hire Purchase Rehabilitation Scheme under the Syarikat Jaminan Pinjaman Perniagaan (SJPP) such as the 21 Initiatives announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin through the Malaysian Economic and Rakyat's Protection Assistance Package (PERMAI) on Jan 18 be expedited.

“Other than tour buses and taxis, it should also involve express buses so that all loans from hire purchase and leasing companies can be restructured to enjoy the moratorium for 12 months and the payments of lower monthly instalments,'' he said.

He also hoped that the one-off payment through the PERMAI assistance package would also be given to express bus drivers as they were also adversely impacted by the pandemic resulting in most having to go on unpaid leave or terminated.