Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister’s department, revealed that vehicle prices are on track to be reduced by 30% come 2018. According to the New Straits Times, the minister said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng, the Segambut MP, that prices will be reduced in stages. Earlier, Lim had quizzed the minister about the government’s promises to reduce car prices and reduce toll rates during GE13.
“Various efforts have been undertaken, including the granting of incentives to reduce the amount of excise duty payable to companies of car manufacturers involved in local value-added automotive components,” she said. “These incentives are seen to be beneficial as the total price reduction recorded in 2013 was 3%, followed by 7% in 2014 and 2.7% in 2015.”
Turning her attention to ongoing discussions about toll rate hikes, Azalina said that since 2008, the government has been in negotiations with highway concessionaires to reduce the financial strain put on users by increasing toll rates. “The negotiation is aimed at finding the best mechanism to ease the burden of tolls to achieve a win-win situation for all parties involved, namely the government, concessionaires and consumers,” she said.
“Among the results of the negotiations to date are; to postpone an increase in highway toll rates since the past eight years, from 2008 until October 14, 2015,” she exclaimed. The minister highlighted that other results from the government’s negotiations include the abolishment and early closure of eight tolls on six highways, reducing toll rates for highways and improving concession agreement terms so that toll rate hikes are no longer automatically justified.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
The comments express skepticism and disappointment over the claim that car prices will drop by 30% by 2018, with many suspecting political motivations behind the announcement. Several commenters highlight that actual prices have risen or remained high, contradicting the promise, and criticize the government for failing to reduce costs over the years. There is widespread suspicion that the promises are mere political rhetoric meant to influence voters ahead of elections. Some comments ridicule the feasibility of such reductions, citing increased car prices, inflation, and rising costs of living. Others blame the government and car manufacturers for profiteering and note the corruption and inefficiency in the system. Overall, sentiments are largely negative, with suspicion, frustration, and distrust toward the government’s sincerity and effectiveness.