Friday, February 27, 2009
Groups call for buyouts, new highway deals
Friday February 27, 2009
Groups call for buyouts, new highway deals
PATTAYA (Thailand): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked for the decision to increase the toll rates on five major highways to be reconsidered.
Abdullah, who joined a chorus of various consumer-related bodies in the call for the reconsideration, said the matter would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting today chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Mohd Zin had said road users would have to pay higher tolls for five major highways beginning March 1.
The highways affected are the North-South Expressway (PLUS), Sprint / Kerinchi / Damansara Link highways, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Expressway (Akleh), Sungai Besi Highway and the New Pantai Expressway (NPE).
Abdullah said the decision to increase the toll rates was made two or three weeks ago.
“However, the situation has now changed, and the economy has not become better as yet, he said.
“People are having difficulties. The situation is not right for a toll increase. I feel the matter needs to be discussed again in the Cabinet.”
“The decision may come in the form of measures that will included in the second stimulus package or through some other measures.
“I think that’s the best that we can do – conduct a review and decide on whatever that is appropriate,” he told reporters after attending the Third Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting here yesterday. Today he will be in Hua Hin to attend the Asean Summit.
In Petaling Jaya, the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations said the Government must immediately renegotiate all concession agreements.
Secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the Government’s decision to allow highway concessionaires to increase toll rates was not in line with the economic policies to deal with the current economic situation.
Pan-Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said the timing of the toll increase was bad.
“It is ridiculous for the Government to keep increasing the rates when they are dragging their feet on a fare increase for the bus industry,” he said.
Pan-Malaysian Lorry Operators Association president Er Sui See said he proposed that the Employees Provident Fund buy over the highways.
