CONSUMER groups are concerned that the huge amount of money pumped into the public transportation system will not yield direct and immediate assistance to the needy.

Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said building more stations and having more tracks needed time to materialise.

“It does not result in cheaper fares immediately. What is needed is subsidy to reduce the operating cost of bus companies, which in turn will allow them to reduce fares and not impose surcharges,” said Muhammad Sha’ani.

“Also, unless congestion, unreliable schedules and lack of connections are addressed, the public transportation system will not be attractive to the masses. This will defeat the Government’s purpose of wanting more people to leave their cars at home,” he said.

Consumer Association of Penang president S.M. Mohd Idris said a better way to help the poor travel was to provide discount cards to identified groups.

As for the higher 60sen for a 20-stick cigarette pack, Mohd Idris said it was disappointing that the tax was not steeper.

Muslim Consumers Association project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Nordin said the Budget had placed emphasis on the lower- income group but called for serious monitoring of the plans.

Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Ramon Nava- ratnam said the Government had responded to the people’s concerns with a Budget that concentrated on basic needs.

Human Rights Commission economic, social and cultural rights working group chairman and Commissioner Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said the Budget was comprehensive and targeted groups most affected by the high cost of living such as the lower-income group and farmers.