Abolishing toll fare collection would have significant financial implications on nation – Ahmad Maslan

Abolishing toll fare collection would have significant financial implications on nation – Ahmad Maslan

The abolition of toll fare collection on highways would have significant implications for the country’s financial position, as proposals to abolish toll collection in the country would need the government to compensate highway concession companies more than RM450 billion, said deputy works minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, reported Bernama.

“The [estimated cost] in 2019 to abolish tolls would require us to pay compensation to highway concessionaires over RM400 billion. The estimated cost now surely has increased, [and] I estimate it is around RM450 billion,” the deputy works minister said.

“We know that the national budget is around RM388 billion annually, [so] if we want to abolish tolls with a value of RM450 billion within that one year period, we won’t have salaries to give for other purposes. I don’t see tolls being abolished,” he added.

Abolishing toll fare collection would have significant financial implications on nation – Ahmad Maslan

The Malaysian government is spending RM20 million a day for payments to highway concessionaires on the provision of toll-free highway travel during festive celebrations, Ahmad Maslan added.

Last month, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that toll concessions for highways around Kuala Lumpur can be renegotiated once the country’s financial situation improves, agreeing to a statement that there were too many toll plazas on highways around the nation’s capital.

Earlier, amendments involving 16 clauses in the Highway Authority Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 1980 aimed to improve the functions and powers of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in addition to strengthening its role as a stable, efficient and effective regulatory body in line with the government’s aspirations, the deputy works minister said wne tabling the second reading of the bill.

The amendment to the act would not have any financial implication for the government or any increase in toll rates agreed upon in the agreement between the government and the highway concession companies, he added. The bill was passed with more votes in favour, after 12 government and opposition members of parliament took part in a debate session, Bernama reported.

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Comments

  • Janji dicapati on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:00 am

    Refer my name

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 1
    • Dah Menang Semua on Mar 22, 2024 at 2:26 pm

      U can’t sinply void a contract
      U look at ECRL, HSR, tolls
      Must stop evils leader
      Never give them chance

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
      • I Miss BN 60 Years Rule on Mar 24, 2024 at 6:02 pm

        Why not? Najib did just that, not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 highway tolls got abolished in his short PMships.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
    • Ajibkor on Mar 22, 2024 at 6:26 pm

      Asalkan bukan PN PAS pegang kuasa.. Hahahah

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 6
    • DAP Korup on Mar 22, 2024 at 6:32 pm

      Talk 1st, lie later

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • Nurul Izzah on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:00 am

    Anwar menang rakyat senang

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 8
    • PH janji abolish toll mana? on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:45 pm

      As above.
      PH Gomen continue to troll millions of Msians

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Henry on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:02 am

    “The Malaysian government is spending RM20 million a day for payments to highway concessionaires on the provision of toll-free highway travel during festive celebrations, Ahmad Maslan added.”
    ————–

    I think he meant the taxpayers are paying the RM20 million per day. :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 0
    • FrankC on Mar 22, 2024 at 4:21 pm

      Very difficult to untangle highway toll that already been put up but we can help the rakyat by maintaining our non toll road. such that rakyat have a choice. without a doubt highway toll road will be more convenient and faster to arrive, that’s the price we have to pay for. alternative availability is a must

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
    • hazri on Mar 25, 2024 at 6:14 pm

      but we have to pay hutang 1mdb najib per month billions…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • longjaafar on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:23 am

    For a start, declassify all toll agreements. There is no reason why we, the taxpayers and road users, are not allowed to see the agreement. After all, it is not something that affects national security..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 0
    • Lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Spike protein vs retirement plan : 1-0 on Mar 24, 2024 at 2:14 am

      Ask the exact same question regarding contract signed between Gov and Pfizer… You will understand why keeping those (((agreement))) secret is (((national security)))

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Nazariyah on Mar 22, 2024 at 11:38 am

    bukan manifesto PH na hapuskan tol kan..dah byk kali pilihanraya caka nak hapuskan tol..rupa2nya sembang taik aja…kita pun pircaya…padan muka kita..mcm ni sampai bila bila la x hapus tol nya

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • @NotBruceWayne on Mar 22, 2024 at 1:07 pm

    in that case, let’s abolish MP’s allowances first!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • ROTI CANAI on Mar 22, 2024 at 1:12 pm

    Bingung kangkung

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Rafiji on Mar 22, 2024 at 2:52 pm

    Formula terlebih PADU,
    apa malu bossku

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Who ask to fully abolish? Reduce prices. Not logical to fully abolish tolls. Who wanna do the maintenance? Government? Way too many trunk roads need maintenance urgently.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • Too many tolls in KV on Mar 22, 2024 at 7:12 pm

      Agreed on ur point. If cant abolish all, at least stop or reduce tolls at those have been existing long enough and still jam badly, especially inside klang valley. If every year can abolish 1 toll, it’s already a great success.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Pro-Palestine on Mar 22, 2024 at 3:49 pm

    Can we see the toll contract? sampai sekarang kos belum dapat balik ke? tak logik.

    While you are at it, boleh tak bagi tahu how our fuel subsidies work? So wierd that many oil producing countries don’t have subsidies but their petrol is not only cheaper but they make enough money to allow their citizens to enjoy tax free on everything. Please explain?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • Gomorrah on Mar 23, 2024 at 9:13 am

      Jangan tanya soalan susah bro. Then we will all be able to see a bit of the staggering amounts of money that went missing since 1981. Maybe even earlier. From the time Petronas was incorporated.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Toll contract protects umno cronies. I think there is a gomen guarantee of traffic numbers. If traffic less than projected, gomen must compensate. Otherwise no banks will lend money to these concessionaires.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Sohai on Mar 22, 2024 at 4:12 pm

    … but you promise

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • John Doe on Mar 22, 2024 at 5:42 pm

    How these people and parties have lied for over 30 years…. and when they come into power they can not only dishonour what they said, but also implying that it was your fault by bringing it up…

    with one sentence “This was not part of the manifesto” those who have championed them, have to eat up 30 years of frustration in a single split second.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Phuddi sung lee on Mar 22, 2024 at 5:43 pm

    Abolish taxes,tolls ,and bla bla manifesto effective only bfr election ,after won same thing they will justify null and wide to abolish ,(pure so call politics )

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • Pro-Palestine on Apr 02, 2024 at 9:50 am

      Western democratic system ma. Talk is most important, delivery is least important. That is the beauty of western democratic system. Unlike meritocratic system like China and Singapore, Action and delivery is more important than talking

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • seitha on Mar 23, 2024 at 10:34 am

    “The [estimated cost] in 2019 to abolish tolls would require us to pay compensation to highway concessionaires over RM400 billion.

    1. The public need to have the legal documents signed by the previous governments, with the terms and conditions for the toll concessions.
    2. Its been over 30 years since the first tolls were implemented. These tolls should be abolished and the highways taken over by the gov.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Henry on Mar 24, 2024 at 12:16 pm

    No one expect all tolls to go away in one go anyway, and don’t be fooled by boosted figures all in one.
    We paid road tax, in addition tolls most of the times in Klang Valley city across all towns with KV. For a start, many tolls with Klang Valley are long overdue (just like Jalan Kuching) should be abolished after year and year of extension, one classic example is LPD which is not elevated and widen on existing roads 30+ years ago.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Henry on Mar 24, 2024 at 12:17 pm

    No one expect all tolls to go away in one go anyway, and don’t be fooled by boosted figures all in one.
    We paid road tax, in addition tolls most of the times in Klang Valley city across all towns within KV. For a start, many tolls with Klang Valley are long overdue (just like Jalan Kuching) should be abolished after year and year of extension, one classic example is LPD which is not elevated and widen on existing roads 30+ years ago.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • RejimKejamGanas on Mar 24, 2024 at 3:59 pm

    Did they ask Mat Maslan to announce this ‘janji dicapati’ because people find what he says as entertaining? Sejak bila orang mintak hapuskan toll sekaligus? Dah lah tahu alasan yang tak masuk akal, mintak menteri yang mengarut untuk buat kenyataan.
    If Bossku can abolish tolls on Batu Tiga, Sungai Rasau, Bukit Kayu Hitam, and Eastern Dispersal Link routes. Apasal lak Pakatan Lanun takleh nak buat?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Mar 25, 2024 at 8:12 am

    pakatan harapan, tiada harapan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • The cost of abolishing toll is high because it’s based on contract and not the cost of construction.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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