Govt issues sharp response to WP reaction on fares

SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party has called for the public transport fare hike to be delayed until two new concession schemes for low-wage workers and people with disabilities are implemented — a suggestion that drew a withering response from Senior Minister of State (Transport) Josephine Teo, who accused the opposition party of pandering and missing the fine print.

In a statement issued yesterday, the WP had welcomed the new and enhanced concession schemes announced by the Public Transport Council (PTC) on Thursday for which “the public and the WP have lobbied for years”, but said they “should not be used as a sweetener to make the latest fare increases palatable”.

“With an initial increase of 3.2 per cent in 2014 and an increase of 3.4 per cent rolled over to the fare review exercise next year, this could mean a heftier increase in 2015,” said WP executive council member Dennis Tan Lip Fong in a statement posted on the party’s website.

The party also said the hike — slated to take effect on April 6 — should not kick in until the concession schemes offering discounts to the two groups are implemented on July 6, even though the Government had said more transport vouchers in bigger amounts would be given to the needy in the interim.

Writing on her Facebook, Mrs Teo took issue with the WP claiming credit for the concessions. “That’s always easy. Except someone else did the real work of sorting out the math and getting the balance right,” she remarked.

Referring to the WP’s suggestion, she said: “Would have been better if (WP) read the reports carefully — transport vouchers of between S$30 to S$80 are going to both groups from April to tide them over. And everyone else who needs extra can get additional vouchers year-round.”

The party, she said, “never misses an opportunity to pander and its response to the fare review exercise was, to a large extent, predictable”.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, Mr Gerald Giam, Chair of the WP’s media team, said the party was aware of the vouchers, but pointed out that the take-up rate for such vouchers has been low in the past, mainly due to the hassle of applying for them and the small amount offered for each voucher.

“We are of the view that the concession schemes should be launched before any fare increases take place, so as to give eligible commuters time to become aware of and apply for the concessions. Why was the PTC in such a hurry to approve and implement the fare increases?” he said.

The party also noted that the latest fare hike comes after the Government’s S$1.1 billion commitment to the Bus Services Enhancement Programme (BESP), and commuter frustration with service quality and reliability lapses. “Service quality, reliability and fare affordability should come before the need to ensure the profitability of (the public transport operators),” Mr Tan said.

Mrs Teo, however, called the WP out for opposing that operators get more fares through the adjustment and criticising the Government for directly funding programmes such as the BESP, while wanting better services at the same time.

“More buses, more drivers, more trips on the road, more depots and interchanges, more maintenance and more equipment. In the WP’s world, these things can all be achieved without more effort and resources. Not in the real world,” she said.