The Ministry of Transport is facing mounting pressure to address the issue of express bus operators raising fares during the Chinese New Year holiday, with calls for stringent action against those found guilty of price gouging.
NV Subbarow, Senior Education Officer of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), has urged the ministry to take decisive measures, including suspending the licenses of express bus services, in response to reports of exorbitant fare hikes. One such incident involved a couple who were charged over RM800 for a round trip from Gopeng, Perak to Johor Bahru (JB).
Subbarow highlighted that the passengers had to bear fares inflated by 270 per cent to 344 per cent above the usual rate of RM70 per passenger for a one-way trip.
Expressing disappointment and concern, Subbarow emphasised that passengers had purchased tickets online a month before Chinese New Year, only to be faced with significantly higher prices during their journey.
Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol) organised the “Chinese New Year and Safe Return Home Program” at BHPetrol Jalan Kebun, Klang. The event, held in collaboration with their strategic partner, the Road Safety Division (BKJR) of the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ), aimed to promote road safety awareness among the community, particularly during the festive season.
The program saw the participation of 150 individuals, including BHPetrol management, representatives from BKJR and UPJ, BHPetrol station owners, media partners, local community members, and BHPetrol customers.
As an annual initiative by BHPetrol, the program celebrated the Chinese New Year festivities while also providing valuable road safety tips and vehicle inspections to attending customers. Emphasising the importance of safe driving practices and vehicle maintenance, customers were encouraged to prioritise their safety and ensure their vehicles are in optimal condition.
“We believe that this effort can contribute positively to supporting the government’s efforts in addressing road safety issues in Malaysia. We hope that everyone arrives safely at their destinations to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Drive carefully on the roads, Drive Smart, Arrive Safely,” said Ir. Azizul Azily Ahmad, CEO of BHPetrol, emphasising the importance of responsible driving habits for a safer road environment.
Through collaborative efforts between BHPetrol and BKJR, the “Chinese New Year and Safe Return Home Program” served as a platform to raise awareness about road safety and promote safer driving practices among motorists, ultimately contributing to reducing road accidents and ensuring the well-being of all road users.
Chery Malaysia has unveiled its latest initiative, the ‘Chery to Chery Trade-in Campaign,’ offering loyal Chery owners an exclusive opportunity to seamlessly upgrade to a new Chery vehicle. This campaign aims to enhance the ownership experience for Chery enthusiasts by simplifying the trade-in process and providing exclusive incentives for their brand loyalty.
Key Highlights of the Campaign:
Exclusive Trade-in Offer: Chery Malaysia is offering an additional RM3,000 on top of the trade-in-offer price for loyal Chery customers who trade in their old Chery vehicles and intend to purchase a brand-new and more advanced Chery vehicle.
Seamless Upgrade: The campaign provides Chery owners with an opportunity to upgrade to the latest models equipped with cutting-edge features and enhancements designed to elevate the driving experience.
Commitment to Innovation: With a commitment to modern innovation, sustainability, and futuristic design, Chery is dedicated to providing its customers with the latest advancements in automotive technology.
Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has announced the availability of the fourth-generation, locally assembled 2024 Kia Carnival 7-seater and 8-seater variants for booking.
Design and Interior
The 2024 Kia Carnival boasts a bold and athletic design, setting new standards in style and functionality. With its spacious three-row seating configuration for seven or eight passengers, the Carnival epitomises comfort and versatility. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the interior exudes modernity and sophistication, creating a futuristic environment for all occupants.
Enhanced Features and Stylish Upgrades
The Carnival now features black and grey leatherette finishing, elevating its aesthetic appeal. Additionally, both variants come equipped with new 19-inch Black alloy wheels as standard, enhancing their overall presence on the road. Premium features such as LED daytime running lights, Dual Power Sunroof, and Smart Power Sliding doors ensure a luxurious and convenient driving experience.
Advanced Technology and Connectivity
It offers cutting-edge technology and connectivity features to enhance the driving experience. With a 12.3-inch High-resolution Touchscreen Infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility, users can seamlessly integrate their smartphones for enhanced connectivity. Wireless smartphone charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and seven USB ports further elevate the connectivity experience for both drivers and passengers.
Safety and Performance
Safety remains a top priority for Kia, with the Carnival equipped with a host of standard and advanced safety features. From 7 SRS Airbags to Blind-Spot View Monitor, the Carnival ensures a safe and secure journey for all occupants. Powered by a 2.2L Turbo diesel engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Carnival delivers smooth and powerful performance, making every drive enjoyable.
Pricing and Availability
The 2024 Kia Carnival is now available for booking with a starting price of RM 245,888.00. It comes with a 5-Years Manufacturer Warranty and 5-Years Free Scheduled Maintenance, providing peace of mind to customers. The Carnival is locally assembled at the Inokom Assembly Plant in Kulim, Kedah, and is offered in four stunning colours.
In addition to the CKD variants, the Kia Carnival 11-seater variant is also available for booking, offering extra seating capacity for larger families.
With its exceptional features, advanced technology, and luxurious design, the 2024 Kia Carnival redefines the standard for premium MPVs in Malaysia. Experience the epitome of luxury and innovation with the all-new Kia Carnival.
PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) is gearing up for the anticipated surge in traffic on its highways during the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration. To ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for highway users, PLUS has outlined four key strategies focusing on user comfort, traffic management, traffic distribution, and efficient communication.
Highway Users’ Comfort
PLUS Chief Operating Officer, Datuk Ir Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi, emphasised the priority of managing congestion at toll plazas and the mainline to enhance user comfort. To achieve this, PLUS will deploy 450 PLUSRonda personnel for highway patrol, station 1,500 staff at toll plazas, and ensure all toll lanes are operational. Additionally, maintenance staff will ensure cleanliness at rest areas, with extra facilities such as toilets and temporary parking areas provided at selected locations.
Traffic & Efficient Incident Management
PLUS is committed to efficient traffic management and incident handling during the festive season. Lane closures will be minimised from 5th to 16th February 2024, except for emergencies and critical works. The SmartLane will be utilised to increase lane capacity, while a heavy vehicle ban enforced on specific dates aims to facilitate smoother traffic flow.
A Honda HR-V owner, who encountered issues with her car at a Honda service centre in Terengganu, has confirmed the return of her SUV in impeccable condition following a thorough inspection and repair process.
The owner disclosed that her SUV was returned to her last Monday after undergoing a 16-day assessment at Honda Malaysia to identify the root cause of the problems she had experienced.
According to her, Honda conducted a comprehensive examination of her car and determined that the misaligned headlights, flashing dashboard indicator lights, and activated emergency lights were attributed to a malfunction in the light sensor.
Sime Darby Auto Bavaria (SDAB), Malaysia’s leading distributor of BMW vehicles, has joined forces with Sime Darby Rent-A-Car (SDRAC) – Hertz Malaysia, a prominent name in the car rental industry, to introduce an exciting and unparalleled electric vehicle (EV) driving experience to Malaysians. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards embracing e-mobility in rental services.
To celebrate this partnership and the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, an exclusive rental offer has been unveiled, featuring the highly sought-after fully electric BMW iX. With introductory rental prices starting at RM550 per day and RM5,500 per month, the BMW iX presents an ideal opportunity for car enthusiasts to indulge in a premium short-term drive, experiencing the epitome of high-tech EV luxury.
Proton has achieved its best January sales performance since 2013 by selling 12,882 units (domestic and export). This marks a 1.3% increase compared to December 2023 and a significant 10.3% increase compared to January of the previous year. With this strong start, Proton comfortably retains the second position in the sales table, and its estimated market share for the month is 19.5%, showing a 3.3% increase from the previous month.
The Total-Industry-Volume for January is estimated to be 66,134 units, reflecting a decline of 15.6% compared to December. This drop is attributed to the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales in December 2023.
The newly launched Proton S70 has made a notable impact, with 1,442 units delivered in January and over 8,000 bookings. The model has received a positive response from customers and has already made its way to an export market in Brunei, with 15 units delivered ahead of its official launch this month.
Approximately 30,000 taxis across the country have reportedly been left abandoned as drivers claim to have been forced out of business due to the rise of e-hailing services, as reported by local daily Utusan Malaysia. The publication suggests that the number of taxis in operation has decreased from around 120,000 to just 40,000 since the advent of e-hailing.
While the source of the statistics was not cited, Gabungan Teksi Malaysia (GTSM), a taxi drivers’ group, was quoted by Utusan Malaysia, attributing the decline to the significant difference in fares between traditional taxis and e-hailing services. Kamarudin Hussain, the chairman of GTSM, pointed out that consumers are drawn to the lower fares offered by e-hailing services, placing blame on the government for not regulating e-hailing rates.
Kamarudin expressed concern that the lack of control over e-hailing rates has led to a price war among e-hailing companies, resulting in compromised fares. He argued that when rates become extremely affordable, passengers naturally prefer e-hailing services over taxis.
Starting from February 23, TNG Digital Sdn Bhd (TNGD) will implement a one per cent fee on all Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) top-ups made using credit cards. Transactions via debit cards and DuitNow will continue to remain free of charge.
The decision, according to TNGD’s Chief Executive Officer, Alan Ni, is aimed at addressing excessive withdrawals from credit cards to bank accounts and reducing the significant costs associated with credit card transactions borne by TNGD.
Ni emphasised that TNG eWallet users have the option to choose DuitNow for top-ups, which involves fund transfers between banks, providing a balance between convenience, security, and the long-term cost sustainability of the company. He encouraged users to utilise DuitNow or debit cards for top-ups, as both options are free of charge.
