Here’s more on the government’s proposal to acquire highway concessions and abolish toll collection in stages, replacing it with a congestion charge model. The plan is to acquire highways which Gamuda Berhad has a majority stake in – Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS) and the SMART Tunnel.
Finance minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday that the government expects the acquisition exercise to take up to six months to fulfill legal, regulatory and financial requirements, The Star reports. He added that initial projections estimate that commuters will save as much as RM180 million per annum with the switch from today’s toll to the congestion charge model.
The proposed takeover of the highways by the government is described as a win-win solution for all parties – the government (which is spending taxpayers’ funds, let’s not forget) and urban commuters.
According to the finance ministry, with this move, the government/taxpayers will save RM5.3 billion in compensation to the toll concessionaires for a continued freeze on toll rate hikes, which they are legally entitled to. In December, Lim said 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.
As for commuters, we could save up to RM180 million per year and enjoy reduced traffic jam during peak hours. This presumes that a section of motorists will travel outside of peak hours to save on the congestion charge. Any surplus in the collection (revenue collected from the congestion charge will go towards the operations and maintenance of the highways, and repayment of borrowings) goes towards the financing, upgrade and maintenance of our public transport system.
The four tolled highways have 48% market share of the urban toll roads market (excluding PLUS) based on revenue collected, so this would involve many urban commuters. Here’s a recap of the original announcement by the PM’s office, and the leading government figures urging calm and deflecting criticism of the plan.
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Rafizi should tell Nobita how’d he saved Rm 400 Billion a year with a switch from current toll to abolishing all tolls immediately, via his formula.
3 years, kautim 1.2 trillion, then can keep all tall and lofty promises???
This useless minister again? Can anyone trust his calculations after he flipped and flopped with our country’s debts like some roti canai?
We’ll wait and see. Now trust you only 50/50.
Eh Nobita, why not count how much commuters can save if u abolish tolls at more meaningful hiways like North-South hiway, Penang bridges, Tuas 2nd link, and LPT? Saving Rm 180million to rich folks is no big impact compared to saving even Rm 18million to poor lowly paid workers.
Terbaik FM!! Commuters misti la amek Ktm komuter dgn public transportations!
Now PTPTN defaulters can use the toll money saved to pay their study loans.
If midnight is free and off peak tolls slashed, will the peak hour rates be higher than current rates? I believe so. Other wise they will suffer huge loss.
Why this sounds like a bait-and-switch scam tactics, I wonder? What’s so difficult to ABOLISH the TOLLS as you have PROMISED?!
Its better for him to come out and talk lesser,
Although excellent rakyat welfare efforts.
-generous BSH
-Unlimited RM50 transport pass
-KTM 20% diskaun
-RON95 petrol rebate
-Free car tax holiday
-incoming no more tolls
I still BASH no matter what, cuz his not my side.
I’d love to save RM180m per year.
He totally lost the plot. Majority Msians dun care how much the govt savings, but how much $$$ the govt can feeding majority Msians.
I jangka RM1.8m spending elaun for a household family per year, is a fair amount.
Dear mister finance minister, how come only the business community gain the most out of this move, i.e from switching delivery and transportation to night shift, we the majority 9 to 5 workers pau income tax, road tax and sst too. Not fair to use our tax payer money to only benefit a few.
Travel off peak implies we don’t work or go office after peak hrs. It’s better to impose no commercial vehicles entry during peak hrs.cease traffic police for traffic control at critical route esp some towards PJ. Jalan templer etc
We need a congestion charge, it only makes sense.