Some feel concessions could be more generous for low-wage workers, seniors

SINGAPORE — The quantum of the fare hikes this year struck a balance between the interests of commuters and those of the public transport operators, said analysts TODAY spoke to. However, some felt the concessions could be more generous for low-income workers and senior citizens.

Mr Ang Hin Kee, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, questioned whether enough concessions were being given out to “vulnerable groups”, but acknowledged that the concessions for younger members of the family such as students and National Servicemen could help mitigate costs for households that are struggling to make ends meet.

Dr Park Byung Joon, Head of the Urban Transport Management Programme at SIM University’s School of Business, felt more could be done for senior citizens with low income.

“There is quite a number of senior citizens with low (disposable) income and I wonder whether the PTC could have provided a concession scheme as (generous) as the one for secondary students for senior citizens with low income,” said Dr Park.

Analysts were also sceptical that the 15 per cent discount given to low-wage workers under the Workfare Income Supplement scheme would really help this group.

Said Professor Lee Der Horng from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at National University of Singapore (NUS):“Fifteen per cent does not sound like much, even if you look in terms of discounts in general.”

Analysts also noted commuters will have to bear a similar increase next year, as only half the fare hike would take effect this year, with the remaining increase “rolled over” to next year — a move intended to cushion the impact of large increases.

Prof Lee questioned whether this mechanism, if left unchecked, would lead to commuters facing fare increases every year. “When the system was designed, there should have been a mechanism to ensure fare increases did not happen in subsequent years,” he said.

However, Mr Ang, who sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, pointed out that the fare formula takes into account annual wage increases. “The increase will be recalibrated if annual wages do not increase or stagnate,” he said.

NUS transport economist Anthony Chin felt any fare increase was acceptable as long as it went hand in hand with service availability.

“As long as any increase is met by service availability, accessibility to services, affordability changes in fares will be acceptable,” said Prof Chin.

Commuters TODAY spoke to took the fare hike in their stride, though adult fares for buses and trains are set to increase by 4 to 20 cents. Logistics assistant Priya Superamoney, 25, who spends S$56 a month now, felt the increase would be manageable.

Supervisor technician Mohamed Subhan, 48, whose workplace is only 4km from his home, agreed as he will spend no more than S$2 a day on transport.

However, he noted that he would not benefit from the new S$120 Adult Monthly Travel pass. “I take the bus to work every day and (am) affected by the increase, but I spend less than S$100 a month on transport in total ... (the pass) only benefits heavy users,” said Mr Mohamed.

Housing agent Poh Hanwei who takes the MRT three to four times a day, welcomed the new pass, which he said would make his erratic travelling patterns more affordable. The 26-year-old spends up to S$200 a month on public transport to meet clients all over the island. “With the pass, my travel expenses will be more fixed and certain,” he said.