Transport fares are likely to go up in coming years: Lui Tuck Yew

[Ben]

Originally Posted by globalcookie

Based on current seats of 87, Opposition needs to win 30 seats to derail the 2/3 majority. Currently, there are 6 seats occupied by Opposition.

To derail PAP's 2/3 majority, there needs to be another 24 seats won by Opposition (to make 30). Can this happen in GE2016? Who do we think may qualify and win in 2016? Anyone keen to share their hopeful list?

My dream team, I hope:
- Dr Chee Soon Juan sets up a strong team of 4 or 5 to win 1 GRC
- Hopefully NSP decides to heed the wishes of voters and win 1 GRC
This will only see about 10.
- WP wins another 2 GRCs (incld Gerald Giam)
- SPP also forms a reliable team and wins a few seats (not so hopeful tho)
- A few SMCs.

This may be the closest we may get to having the 30 Opposition.

RP..... is as good as a disorganized and desolated team, not much hope or wishes from them.

bro, this will never happen. the fact that 40% voted for opposition but we only have less than 10% opposition representation in parliament says alot. who knows one day 90% vote for opposition but due to 'reworking of boundaries', ruling party still the same, haha that will really be a world first!!

[hkh]

Originally Posted by Ben

bro, this will never happen. the fact that 40% voted for opposition but we only have less than 10% opposition representation in parliament says alot. who knows one day 90% vote for opposition but due to 'reworking of boundaries', ruling party still the same, haha that will really be a world first!!

Yup.......wining more popular votes does not guarantee to win more seats in the parliament.........as demonstrated by the Malaysian GE........

But I do hope that the Oppositions make more inroads in some GRCs and break the sure-win attitude of some of these MIWs........

[streetsmart73]

Originally Posted by jwhtan

If u look at the social health report 2013, u'll see that although there are plenty of positives in the report, like for eg. greater diversity in parliament, progress in civil society, new charities, increase in volunteer work, growth in arts and culture etc etc, there are also a certain number of negative trends.

The number of negative trends include weakening family ties, parenting stress, less desire to hv children, divorces, healthcare, foreigners, housing etc

For the purpose of staying within topic, I'll just point out the main factor relating to transport which is income.

Income ...... this is important cos the new fare adjustments are supposed to be pegged to wage increase.

Average income increased for all Singaporeans. But wait, when u dissect it further, u'll realise the low income group at the bottom 10% actually experienced a decline in wages. Gross real median wages for 9 common occupations listed by MOM fell.

So who are those who experienced real wage increase ??? Yes you got it, The top and higher earners. But who are the ones who take public transport ? Yes, u also got it. The middle class who experience neutral wage increase and the low income who experience declining wages.

Public transport fare adjustments do not affect the top and high earners, of which their average income is taken into consideration.

While I acknowledge that the operating costs for public transport has increased, this is supplemented by govt grants and the rental income these companies received.

The peg on fare increase to average wage increase is therefore flawed.
At most, it should be pegged only to median wage increase. And that will also hit the common folk, just not as hard as taking all the top and high income earners wage increase when they decide the fare adjustments.

barney, bingo!

exactly, machiam "cow head does not reply horse mouth" right!

scholars hoh, my foot

such reports were printed to look good to fools

Originally Posted by streetsmart73

barney, bingo!

exactly, machiam "cow head does not reply horse mouth" right!

scholars hoh, my foot

such reports were printed to look good to fools

The 太上皇 does take us not only as fools but also as animal that require spurs to be stuck into what he described as hide....

Dont know when this will happen.....

[KAO LUO]

bus compang cannot earn $$? ......... today look all SBS transit bus driver change new red uniforum ..,,,,,,,,

[hkh]

Originally Posted by KAO LUO

bus compang cannot earn $$? ......... today look all SBS transit bus driver change new red uniforum ..,,,,,,,,

They were never in the red before........and give dividends every year........

[nicktc]

off topic a bit....

My daughter school bus fees just went up by 30% for nect year

from $50 increased to $65.

[globalcookie]

Maximum allowed public transport fare increase in 2015 is 2.8%: Lui Tuck Yew

By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 17 Dec 2014 19:04

SINGAPORE: Any increase in public transport fares next year will be lower than the original roll-over figure of 3.4 per cent. In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said "the maximum that is allowed for this particular fare increase will be 2.8 per cent".

This figure results from deducting the fare adjustment quantum of -0.6 per cent, which is due mainly to a drop in energy costs.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) began its annual fare review exercise last month, and results are expected to be announced by the first quarter of 2015.

The last review in Jan this year announced a fare increase of 6.6 per cent, to be adjusted in two steps. A 3.2 per cent hike was implemented in Apr, and the remaining 3.4 per cent carried forward to the current review. The rollover system was a recommendation made by the Fare Review Mechanism Committee in Nov 2013.

The fare formula is based on four components:

Core CPI inflation: This currently stands at 1.7 per cent, and excludes home and car prices.
Average wage increase, at 4.3 per cent
Energy index: This registered -12.6 per cent, due to a drop in energy costs in 2013. The energy index reflects the rising cost of power and fuel as a proportion of an operator's expenses.
Productivity index at 0.5 per cent, where operators share productivity gains with commuters.
These components have been given weightage of between 20 and 40 per cent - 40 per cent for core consumer price index (CPI), 40 per cent for wage index, and 20 per cent for energy index.

The fare adjustment quantum formula is as follows: CPI + Wages + Energy - Productivity = Fare Adjustment Quantum. So this year's fare adjustment quantum is -0.6 per cent.

Said Mr Lui: "Here we are using 2013, for this fare formula. We know that energy costs have come down, as compared to 2012, which is why for the most recent year, the index was actually -0.6. You may recall that it was 6.6 per cent, of which the most recent fare increase gave an upward revision of 3.2 per cent. So there was a 3.4 per cent that was carried over, and now taken together with the -0.6 per cent, which was derived using all the numbers in 2013, the maximum that is allowed for this particular fare increase will be 2.8 per cent."

The PTC also told Channel NewsAsia it will consider this fare adjustment of 2.8 per cent for the current review exercise. Public Transport Operators SBS Transit and SMRT have until Friday (Dec 19) to submit their applications to the PTC for a fare increase, subject to approval by the Council.

The Transport Minister stressed that the fare review must ensure public transport remains affordable. At the last review, concessions were introduced for low-income workers and those with disabilities, to balance the fare increase.

Observers say this move should continue. Said Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport Cedric Foo: "There is a group of needy people that we must always pay attention to, and do whatever we can to help them. Median income may rise, but those stuck at the bottom decile may still struggle with even small fare increases. So I would like to see the public transport voucher and low-wage concessions as permanent features. People who are dealt a poor deck of cards from birth - persons with disabilities - I think they should always be helped."

The PTC has also been urged to cushion the impact of fare increases on senior citizens. In addition, the Government is looking at the possibility of introducing off-peak monthly passes for commuters.

- CNA/xy

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No say no warn.... be prepared to pay more!

Year after year, profit went up yet PTC will allow more fare adjustments. Almost annual adjustments, UPWARDS!

Vote for them somemore la.

[BurgerKeng]

Fuel oil (Diesel for buses) is a significant cost for bus Operators and has fallen by more than 50 pct ! Don't make sense to project increasing Fare for 2015.

[Auratus]

Originally Posted by globalcookie

[B]
No say no warn.... be prepared to pay more!

Year after year, profit went up yet PTC will allow more fare adjustments. Almost annual adjustments, UPWARDS!

Vote for them somemore la.

Watched the news, he and LTA gave a bunch of figures and indexes simply and courteously inform the public that we now can increase price. Please don't bother to digests the numbers, probably need to be a top LTA management and a transport minister to understand it. It was meant to be that way. End of the day, tai geh huat arghh........!!!

I just topped up my card another $10, making it $21 and these money are paid in advance before using the services. I am not alone, hundreds of thousand of commuters does that. So they have all the cash in advance then where did the freaking money goes?