JOHOR BARU, Malaysia: Schoolbus operators in the city are frustrated that they are not being treated fairly and do not get subsidised diesel.

Southern Johor Schoolbus Association president Wu Ngo Tong said operators who used their fleet cards for subsidised fuel were charged RM1.43 instead of RM1.05.

"The fuel price went up to RM2.58 per litre from RM1.58 during the fuel hike in June.

"We are given a rebate of RM1.15 per litre and that means, we buy diesel at RM1.43 per litre," he explained.

Wu said that since the price of diesel had dropped thrice, which was a total of 38 sen, the subsidised diesel should be RM1.05 and not RM1.43.

"The schoolbus operators are very unhappy about this and they think that it is unfair because they are not allowed to raise their fares and are not given subsidy privileges accordingly," he said.

He questioned why express bus operators were allowed to increase fares by 30% for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and still enjoy the benefits of subsidised diesel.

Wu said the matter was discussed during the association's committee meeting on Oct 19 and decided that they would submit a memorandum to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the subsidised diesel price was below the pump price .

He confirmed that the subsidised price still remained at RM1.43.

"The subsidised price does not decrease with the reduction of pump price," he said, adding that the express and stage bus operators had been asking for a fare increase since 2006.