BARU: REVIEW OF TOLL CONCESSION DEALS TO BE FINALISED SOON
Concessionaires understand country’s financial situation, says works minister
THE government will finalise a toll concession agreement with all 31 concessionaires soon, Works Minister Baru Bian said. The ministry, he said, was reexamining and reviewing the agreements, including concessions restructured in 2011 involving expressways under PLUS Bhd (PLUS).
Baru said under the law, the ministry had the right to amend or review the final agreement since it was involved in the formulation of the concessions.
“I was made to understand that the concessionaires are open. They understand the country’s financial situation.
“I am sure others who understand the country’s financial situation will be open too,” said the Selangau member of parliament in an interview with the New Straits Times Press recently.
Baru was asked to comment on the toll agreement, which, among others, prevented Pakatan Harapan from fulfilling the ruling coalition’s pledge to abolish toll made in its 14th General Election manifesto.
The toll agreement, which was said to be lopsided, would cause the government to pay compensation should it decide not to increase the toll rate or to extend the concession period, which would burden the people.
Fellow Sarawakian and then works minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had said that under the last restructuring of the agreement in 2011, expressway concessions under PLUS, including the North-South Expressway tolls, had been standardised and would end on Dec 31, 2038.
Baru said the government was finding a way to ease people’s burden.
“We must understand that the costs involved for maintenance and highway infrastructure are high.
“Nevertheless, we are looking for the best solutions and will finalise it in the near future.”
He said he was aware of the people’s sentiment towards the government, urging it to abolish the toll.
“Give us (the government) space and time. Only after we came into power did we realise the real problem. Our main problem is limited financial ability.
“To pay compensation (for abolishing tolls) is to use the people’s money. We use the people’s money to pay concessionaires.
“I have explained it to the toplevel management. If they insist on the compensation, it is unfair to the people in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Perlis (as there are no tolls in these states).
“We want to make sure all people are happy.”