Lower toll rates if govt agrees to PLUS takeover
O Cabinet to decide next week, says Guan Eng
PUTRAJAYA: Motorists stand to enjoy up to 18% discount in toll rates on the North-South Expressway if the government agrees to the takeover of Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) in the cabinet meeting next week, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said yesterday the government must decide on this quickly because it has frozen toll hikes and needs to pay compensation to the highway operator.
He said otherwise the compensation will keep on mounting.
“Any decision on the highways must ensure a ‘triple-win – for the government, the company’s owners – Khazanah owns 51% and EPF owns 49% – and the public.
“We must also not be subjected to any increase in our debt burden,“Lim told the media after the closing ceremony of the Financial Literacy Festival.
On the e-wallet programme, Lim said the government will be contributing RM30 to each person who earns below RM100,000 a year but the service providers will also be giving their own incentives.
He said the government wants to increase financial literacy among the public and small and medium scale companies.
On Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun’s support for the proposal to cut the allowances of politicians and ministers, he said the ministry welcomes any kind of savings that can be made.
He said as this proposal involves ministers and other ministries, the decision to implement it should be made by the cabinet.
The DAP secretary-general also expressed disappointment that the Dong Jiao Zong congress on the introduction of Jawi was not allowed to proceed but the Kongres Maruah Melayu was given the green light.
He said freedom of speech should be allowed in Malaysia Baru and there was no reason to bar a closed-door meeting.