Tiong learnt that the members under the umbrella of the association spent an estimated RM30,000 monthly on the fuel alone.

"The increasing cost of diesel prices and the hike of spare parts are compounded with the refusal of Commerical Vehicles Licensing Board to allowing us to increase the bus fares impose on the students," said organising chairman Puan Linda Lau.

As a result, Linda Lau said many members were compelled  to do sidelines in order to supplement their incomes to support the family.

Speaking at the 9th anniversary celebration cum installation ceremony of the association held at a local hotel here, Tiong expressed his sympathy and announced he would personally donate RM120,000 as the subsidy for the purchase of diesel for the period of four months until end of December this year.

However, he set down the conditions that members were forbid to raise the fares on the students.

"If I hear any complaint from parents that anyone of you are increasing the bus fares, then I will revoke this donation," he cautioned.

He said those school bus drivers who did not dutifully carrying their duties as required were not be eligible for the privileges.

Meanwhile Tiong also criticized the Enforcement Divsion of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs here for its failure to carrying out its duties when petrol kiosks' proprietors notifying them about the threats or being pressurized to sell large volume of diesel to certain groups of people.
 

Tiong said he would bring up the matter in the coming Parliament Sitting scheduled on 19th September of the failure of enforcement officers in their failure to turn up and investigate on the claims made by the petrol kiosks proprietors and asked for their explanation.

He also assured the issue of subsidy on diesel would also be deliberated in the sitting.

Tiong also gave away cash incentive award to 17 students who scored distinction in public examinations at the function.