As we’re heading towards a by-election that the ruling coalition “have to win”, expect to hear “good news” in the way of handouts and the fulfilment of election promises, whether partial or in full, as cost of living has been identified as one major point of dissatisfaction among the rakyat.
Expect to hear something regarding highway tolls. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has hinted at an impending announcement by the government, saying that the cabinet has on many occasions discussed ways to address bread-and-butter issues faced by Malaysians, reported by The Star.
“It isn’t easy to solve certain problems, but we did not abandon our responsibilities. Many people criticise us for not fulfilling our manifesto pledges. Maybe there are one or two issues such as tolls. We just discussed this in the cabinet. Maybe in a day or two, Pakatan Harapan will have a statement regarding tolls,” the home minister said in a ceramah yesterday night.
He declined to elaborate. “I can’t give any statement because the minister involved will be making an announcement,” he added.
Looking back at the archives, in November last year, works minister Baru Bian said that his ministry has been given six months to hold discussions and settle the “toll issue”. This was followed by the works ministry saying that it will appoint an independent auditor in January 2019 to study the issue of toll collection. This move’s aim was to assist the government in obtaining data and recommendations, plus analysis on the reduction of toll rates in the short, medium and long term.
“The analysis results are expected to be submitted to the cabinet for consideration and consent in May next year,” he told parliament then, in reply to a question on when the government would be expected to stop toll collection at the Penang Bridge and North-South Expressway as promised in Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto.
With pressure being ramped up by opposition figures such as ex-PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the constant stream of by-elections it has to face, the PH government might not have the luxury to wait till May.
Fulfilling this particular election promise won’t come cheap though. In December, finance minister Lim Guan Eng revealed that the government will have to fork out RM972.75 million in compensation to 21 highway concessionaires for them to not raise toll rates in 2019.
Among the highways that are eligible for a toll fare hike this year (now frozen) are the Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS), Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) and the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP).
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Kesas and LDP are the real killers. Heck I don’t even classify LDP as a toll. It’s just a friggin main road connecting Puchong to Kepong.
Toll the rich connecting Puchong to Kepong.
So no problem.
Are you 5 years old. How many percentage of rich Vs middle-class living in Damansara. LDP is mainroad and toll should be removed.
Pity we still need tolls. 60 years of corruption has raped the country of its wealth. If there were no corruption, we could have saved trillions of RM.
All our roads could be toll free.
Hidup TS Muhyiddin! Hidup Bangsa Johor!!
@johoryan; you might as well start chanting “Long live NIKA GEE!” while you’re at it…
This is a MY most esteemed autoblog site.
Please stick to auto related topic…
Please remove LDP toll connecting Puchong and Sunway/Damansara. The concessionaires already earned billions and have enough money to last 2-3 generations after them.
The amount of traffic during rush hours is unbearable.
I know its a long shot but a man can hope.
Not just tolls…car taxes…have to come down…people are having problems servicing high hp loans.Now young people defer buying houses,cos servicing car loans already burning a big hole in their pockets.
The LRTs do not solve our transport problems cos they are planned by the previous bandit regime to enrich cronies.
A car is still a necessity.With super high car taxes,the rakyat has less food on the table.Some have to take up 2 jobs to survive…Pakatan halangan…please read.No need proton 2.0..a money pit project.
Cannot. Toll money gv our KWSP dividen 6.15%
Back then, this is considered bribery. Where is Bersih now?
Abolish immediately or manifesto dicapati!
Janji mau announce NNCP pon tarak annouce jugak. Boleh percaya ka janji announce tol?
No hope so less disappointment. Discount or perks given since stone age era always been super off peak so where is the sincerity. Throw us a gold bone this time round?
time for politician to give more empty promises.
I wonder whether they gonna announce something about the toll only because ofPRK Semenyih.
i wonder wether u guys will still be minister after next GE..maybe flykite??
I am not hoping much from the U-turn Govt.
Simple black school shoes oso cannot handle and neber think properly.
dah mansuh baru criter….klu x hanceng lg….
Sigh…. all politician the same, honestly when comes to PRU, all party will throw a lot of promises but in the end only 1 / 2 promises will be kept… MALAYSIA BOLEH!!!
At least BN gives half. Pakatan? 1/4 belum tunaikan lagi. Spending all their time & money on frivolous projects and pumping out comics & comedies to vilify Rose.
Why now TS Muhyiddin, can’t wait till the Semenyih prk is done?
The elephant in the room I the NS Expressway !!!
It’s been more than 30 years. PLUS would have paid back it’s loans & now taking in profit. By right, the concession should have ended.
THIS should be the toll that gets abolished first !!