‘DON’T BE FOOLED BY PAKATAN’S TOLL PROMISE’
Disputes abound as Dr M contradicts Pakatan’s plan to abolish toll
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has poured cold water on Pakatan Harapan’s plan to abolish toll collection by justifying himself that toll rates in Malaysia were cheap and necessary.
In response to a statement by Dr Mahathir, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan said conflicts and contradictions such as this would lead to a perfect storm in the opposition coalition.
Rahman said under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, rationalisation of toll charges were initiated and executed.
“For example, the North-South Expressway (PLUS) acquired by Khazanah and EPF (Employees Provident Fund) in 2010 was to rebalance the toll-charging mechanism and no longer favours the private companies that were contracted.
“Hence, in this case, 51 per cent is held by the government and 49 per cent by EPF account holders.”
He said the vast majority of the toll concessions with favourable terms to concessionaires were contracted during Dr Mahathir’s era as prime minister.
During Najib’s terms, he said, concession agreements were renegotiated and all PLUS-owned highways such as the NorthSouth Highway, Penang Bridge and Tuas Second Link did not see any toll increase since he became prime minister in 2009.
Some tolls were completely abolished in the 2018 Budget such as the Batu 3, Sungai Rasau, Johor Bahru EDL Expressway and Bukit Kayu Hitam tolls.
“Also under Najib, pre-existing tolls on roads dating back to Mahathir ’s era in Sarawak were abolished, making Sarawak a tollfree state.
“Even new highways such as the Central Spine Road and PanBorneo Highway that is being constructed under this government were designated as tollfree.”
Dr Mahathir, had in a Facebook live posting yesterday morning, said the country had one of the cheapest toll rates compared with other countries.
He referred to the Penang Bridge’s toll rate at RM7 for a return trip as opposed to a bridge in Japan that requires users to pay RM270 for a one-way trip, which adds up to more than RM500 for a return trip.
In Dr Mahathir’s singing of praises for the cheap tolls was a contradiction to the manifesto announced by the coalition previously that tolls were to be abolished if it was to become the ruling government.
“Being the populist that it is, Pakatan announced that it will abolish all tolls without giving any strategy, evidence or plan on how to do this.
“They also did not provide any figures whatsoever how much this would be funded or financed. This is another irresponsible and irrational move by Pakatan as it continues to push and mislead the people with its agenda.”
Rahman, who is in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, said at the end of the day, people would be the ones suffering from the conflicts within the pact.
“I strongly urge the rakyat to not be fooled by Pakatan’s fake promises!”