Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad(Prasarana) could reduce its RM 763 million losses in 2011 by accepting RM10 million annually offered by the Penang PR State government to provide free bus rides for 7 hours in Penang during peak hours. The RM10 million would have given 1.6 million Penangites free bus rides from 6-9am and 4.30-8.30pm. Prasarana is responsible for the country’s LRT and Monorail systems as well as operates RapidKL and RapidPenang.
The Auditor-General’s Report 2012 revealed that seven Government-linked corporations(GLCs) rewarded their employees with bonuses despite recording combined losses amounting to RM2bil in 2011. Prasarana paid its employees between 1.5 months to two months bonus despite suffering a loss of RM763 million in 2011, whilst Cyberview paid its staff two and a half months bonus despite losing RM 254 million as shown below.
DAP supports the giving of annual bonuses to government employees to help them reduce the high cost of living, even though the Federal government’s budget has been in deficit for the past 15 years. In 2011 Federal government employees were given a one month bonus or a minimum RM1,000. The question asked by the public and the 1.2 million civil servants not working in the GLCs, is why does those staff working in GLCs receive higher bonuses than the ordinary civil servant?
This issue would not be controversial if the GLCs were making profits. No one questions those who receive one-month bonus, similar in amount given to the 1.2 million civil servants. But why should the staff working GLCs receive more if they were making losses just like the Federal government’s losses from the budget deficit.
Prasarana group managing director Datuk Shahril Mokhtar said they were providing public services and operating under government-controlled tariffs or fares, which could not be increased to reflect rising costs. Shahril said of the RM763 million in losses, RM400 million was depreciation cost and RM 300 million financing cost due to heavy investment in public transportation.
If this is the case, he should explain why Prasarana continuously and consistently refused to accept the RM10 million annually offered by the Penang state government to provide free bus services throughout Penang to Rapid Penang during 7 peak hours. The refusal to accept money offered to help increase public transport usage in Penang is not only irrational and unprofessional but also irresponsible of Prasarana.