SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Pakatan Rakyat leaders and supporters today gathered at an interchange here to protest the expected hike in the Kajang-Seremban Expressway (Lekas).
Stretching from Kajang Selatan to Paroi, the highway is 44.3km long and cost RM1.8 billion to build. It was opened on Sept 20, last year.
The Paroi interchange is the ending point of the Kajang stretch.
Many motorists passing by the Paroi interchange also showed their support by honking and waving at the protesters.
About 50 state Pakatan leaders and supporters chanted slogans: “Hancur Barisan Nasional”, “Hidup Rakyat”, “Hidup Pakatan Rakyat” and “Reformasi”.
They also carried a giant banner which read: “Turunkan Kadar Tol” and “Tolak Kerajaan Barang Naik”.
The coordinator of the protest, Loke Siew Fook, who is also the state DAP chairman, told reporters he received information that Lekas might increase the toll rate this year.
The toll concessionaire can increase the toll rate by 10% every three years similar to the toll hikes imposed by major toll concessionaries like PLUS (Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan).
Loke said that Lekas was maintaining the current toll based on the 2008 rate and was expected to raise it this year according to the concessionaire agreement.
“But what irks me is that the current toll rate imposed by Lekas was higher than PLUS. For Class 1 and Class 2 motorists, Lekas charged 14.96 sen per km and 22.43 sen per km. PLUS only charged 13.60 sen per km and 20.39 sen per km for Class 1 and Class 2 respectively.
“The Lekas toll rate is expensive, so there is no reason for the company to increase it again this year. Instead, Lekas should review the current rate and reduced it,” said Loke, who is also Rasah MP.
‘Don’t just think about profit’
Loke said that if the 10% toll hike came into effect, the toll from Setul Toll Plaza to Kajang Toll Plaza would go up from RM4.90 to RM5.40.
The toll rate at the Ampangan Toll Plaza which connects Seremban to Ampangan and Paroi will increase from RM1.90 to RM2.10 per entry.
Loke said that if Pakatan took over Putrajaya, the tolls would be abolished
Meanwhile, State DAP deputy chairman and Senawang assemblyman, P Gunasekaran, urged the people to do something drastic in the coming general election.
“The price of petrol has gone up twice in less than two months since December last year. Everything has gone up including sugar, cooking oil and other groceries. If the toll is increased, it will be bad for the people.
“My advice to the toll concessionaires is: don’t just think about profit but also consider your social commitments to the people.
“These are the same people who are bringing cash and profit to the companies by using the expressway regularly,” Gunasekaran said to applause. - FMT
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