Suchart asked to keep bus plan

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority labour union has asked new Deputy Transport Minister Suchart Chokechaiwattanakorn to stick to his predecessor's policy and push ahead with the controversial bus-leasing scheme.

Union leader Veerapong Wongwaen said the union wanted to ensure that policies - especially those regarding the bus lease - were not changed.

Mr Suchart's predecessor, Prajak Klaewklaharn, who resigned early this month, supported the scheme.

"We back the acquisition of the 4,000 natural gas-powered buses and want the ministry to speed it up to replace ageing city buses in use for 16 and 17 years," Mr Veerapong said.

The ministry is preparing for a meeting on the terms of reference of the scheme on Feb 3. Also to be decided are the qualities of private companies to be picked for bidding to make and supply the buses, said deputy transport permanent secretary Thawanrat Ornsira, who chairs a committee working on the scheme.

He said the committee wants 70% of the buses made by Thai companies. At least two companies could be qualified to do the job, he said.

Along with the new buses, a new ticketing system would be introduced that is expected to cost thousands of jobs, especially those of bus conductors.

The agency plans to keep some conductors who could be trained as drivers.

Mr Veerapong yesterday also held talks with Mr Suchart on measures such as redundancies and the early retirement programme.

Up to 7,000 employees are expected to leave the agency by 2017.