‘Govt can abolish tolls, but in stages’
ALOR STAR: The government can abolish tolls, but it has to be done in stages by taking into account the country’s financial capability, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah.
He said abolishing toll could have a positive impact on the country’s economy.
“Abolishing tolls can reduce the prices of goods as this is determined by the cost incurred by traders. If tolls are abolished, a component of the cost is removed, so this will reduce the price of goods,” he said at the “Bakar Lemang” programme at Masjid Taman Berlian here yesterday.
He said this when asked whether abolishing tolls could impact the country’s economy.
Amiruddin said any move to abolish toll collection would start with expressways with no alternative roads.
“There are tolled expressways with alternative roads... people who do not want to pay toll can use the normal roads.
“However, before any such decision is made, we have to see whether we have to take into account the compensation for the concessionaires.”
In another development, Amiruddin said the Finance Ministry welcomed the suggestion by Council of Eminent Persons chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin for the ministry to improve its governance to ensure the country’s economy remained on the right track.
“We are open to all suggestions and that is why we issue open tenders to ensure the government gets value for money.
“The previous government entered into many deals through direct negotiations resulting in losses,” he said.