‘Favourable’ toll terms set during Dr M era: Minister

PETALING JAYA: The majority of toll concessionaires enjoying favourable terms were contracted during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s premiership, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Abdul Rahman said in contrast, the current administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had executed the rationalisation of toll charges, adding that Najib’s government was also responsible for abolishing several tolls in the country.

He said the acquirement of the North-South Expressway by Khazanah and EPF in 2010 was meant to rebalance the mechanism for toll rates.

“In this case, 51% (of shares) is held by the government and 49% by EPF.” Under this full ownership, the concession agreement was re-negotiated and all PLUS-owned highways such as the North-South Expressway, Penang Bridge and the Tuas Second Link did not see any toll increase since Datuk Seri Najib became prime minister in 2009,” he said in a statement.

“Major new highways such as the Central Spine Road and the PanBorneo Highway that are under construction are also designated as completely toll-free.”

Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years, on Wednesday stressed the need for toll collections in the country, stating that it was necessary to cover the cost of building highways and maintenance.

Abdul Rahman said Mahathir’s statement on toll collections had just “thrown cold water” on the Opposition’s plan to abolish tolls.