(Miri, 4th) Sarawak Democratic Action Party Secretary, Lawyer Alan Ling, expressed serious concern over the additional 3 ringgit 'terminal service and facilities fee' at Miri Bus Terminal and questioned the legality of the charge, asking the City Council to openly disclose the details of the outsourced contract!
He pointed out that, unlike other places, the Miri Long-distance Bus Terminal is fully operated by a third party, namely a private company. Any additional charges should first obtain official authorization from the City Council before being imposed externally.
He emphasized that the City Council must account to the public the specific content of the contract obtained by the outsourced company, prioritizing the interests of the people.
'Assuming an average daily flow of 200 passengers, an additional 3 ringgit per person amounts to 600 ringgit in charges a day, which over a month turns into a considerable income.'
He also questioned whether this additional charge has a legal basis and whether it has undergone proper legal procedures and public consultation. If charges begin without formal announcement, the City Council, as the regulatory body, has the responsibility to protect citizen rights and discuss such charging behavior on behalf of the people.
Therefore, he urged the City Council to take the following measures:
1. Thoroughly investigate the misuse of official seals and inform the public of the situation. If there is illegal behavior involved, legal action must be taken.
2. Clarify the legal basis for the terminal charges. If there is no legal basis, the charges must be stopped immediately to appease public discontent.
He stated that if the City Council is indifferent or dismissive of this matter, the Sarawak Action Party will not rule out taking further legal actions to ensure the rights of Miri citizens are not violated.
He emphasized that the responsibility of the City Council is to protect public interest while simultaneously ensuring that the private sector awarded the contract has the capacity to execute it.
If they cannot operate it, the City Council has a social obligation to take over, as this is part of public facilities, relating to the lives of ordinary people.
He pointed out that, unlike other places, the Miri Long-distance Bus Terminal is fully operated by a third party, namely a private company. Any additional charges should first obtain official authorization from the City Council before being imposed externally.
He emphasized that the City Council must account to the public the specific content of the contract obtained by the outsourced company, prioritizing the interests of the people.
'Assuming an average daily flow of 200 passengers, an additional 3 ringgit per person amounts to 600 ringgit in charges a day, which over a month turns into a considerable income.'
He also questioned whether this additional charge has a legal basis and whether it has undergone proper legal procedures and public consultation. If charges begin without formal announcement, the City Council, as the regulatory body, has the responsibility to protect citizen rights and discuss such charging behavior on behalf of the people.
Therefore, he urged the City Council to take the following measures:
1. Thoroughly investigate the misuse of official seals and inform the public of the situation. If there is illegal behavior involved, legal action must be taken.
2. Clarify the legal basis for the terminal charges. If there is no legal basis, the charges must be stopped immediately to appease public discontent.
He stated that if the City Council is indifferent or dismissive of this matter, the Sarawak Action Party will not rule out taking further legal actions to ensure the rights of Miri citizens are not violated.
He emphasized that the responsibility of the City Council is to protect public interest while simultaneously ensuring that the private sector awarded the contract has the capacity to execute it.
If they cannot operate it, the City Council has a social obligation to take over, as this is part of public facilities, relating to the lives of ordinary people.