Resolve toll problem, opposition urges

PETALING JAYA: The opposition has urged Putrajaya to resolve problems 'of their own doings', in relation to the toll hikes, and not let the public bear the consequences.
Pakatan Harapan economic committee member Rafizi Ramli said it is important for leaders and the public to understand that the recent announcement of the toll hike will bring a negative effect on the country's economic development.
Citing the domino's effect, he said the toll increment will result in an increase in the cost of living, which in turn will force households to reduce their disposable income spending, thus weakening the domestic consumption.
In saying this, the PKR secretary-general has called on Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to renegotiate with toll concessionaires and offer them the "first right of refusal" in future highway projects at a reasonable profit rate.
"In exchange to maintaining the current toll rate, the government can offer them the first right of refusal on market terms that are fair to the rakyat.
"They (consessionaires) can be sure to have a steadier revenue flow because they will have the priority to have future toll projects," he said.
Rafizi said it was the Works minister's job to be more creative and innovative to figure out such deals, and has called on Fadillah to respond to Harapan's proposal on the matter.
Meanwhile, DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua said the country had to suffer from Barisan Nasional's failed privatisation policies of yesteryears where "crony" companies were directly awarded highway concessions without any open tenders.
"The BN administration masked these projects via lower toll rates during the initial years to beguile ordinary Malaysians into accepting the toll concession scheme," he said in a statement.

Dewan Ulama information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the concession agreement should have been limited to only cover the cost of road constructions within the warranted period and maximum profit, and not based on the length of time.
"The deal should also have been focused towards the ownership acquisition by the government, and not full ownership by the concessionaires.
"The increasing number of motorists using these tolls must have also profited these companies, instead of causing them to make losses. It is only right for the government to bear the cost following their deal with the concessionaires," he added.