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Container hauliers have agreed to hold a discussion with users with a view
to resolving the contentious issue relating to the imposition of the fuel
adjustment surcharge following the escalation oil of oil prices in October
last year.
The president of association of Malaysian Hauliers, Shalimin Shaffie said
the association hopes a meeting will be held soon with the Commercial
Vehicle & Licensing Board and the users represented by the Federation of
Malaysian Manufacturers on the fuel surcharge.
Shalimin said the Ministry had agreed to the fuel adjustment surcharge on 15
October 2004 following the representation by the hauliers on 15 October in
response to the increase in price of diesel.
The fuel adjustment factor was at 10.15 per cent of the published rates for
the 40-ft container and was applicable for both 20-ft and 40-ft containers.
The surcharge was initially applicable until 31 December 2004 and after
which was subjected to quarterly review.
According to the Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
Malaysia (ACCCIM), to date the quantum of charge remained the same and no
review has been made.
ACCIM has complained to the Ministry of International Trade & Industry that
the 10.15 per cent was far above the RM0.05 increase in price of diesel and
for 20-ft container the surcharge actually works out to 21 per cent.
As a matter of policy, the associations need to consult the Ministry before
implementing the fuel surcharge, but this has not been done,” the
Association said.
Shalimin said issue only relates to the quantum of the surcharge.
“We are open to suggestion and we are still negotiating the rate for the
first quarter,” he said.
“However, it wrong for the some associations to claim that we have not got
the nod from the government on the surcharge,” said Shalimin.
Meanwhile in its memorandum to MITI’s annual dialogue, the Container
Hauliers Association (CHAM) has proposed to the government to consider the
creation of centralized distribution centres outside city limits and dense
industrial areas to relief pressure on the hailiers to deliver containers.
The association noted that vehicles of its members are not only subjected to
restricted moving hours in some of these areas but also face problems of
entering and parking their vehicles in congested areas. |
