Motorists can use OTHER ROADS, callous Wahid defends toll hike

Motorists upset with the proposed highway toll hike can use other routes, although highway concessionaires will adjust rates according to traffic volume, Putrajaya's economic czar Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said today.

"We provide alternative routes for those willing to pay a premium. For those who think the rate is too high, they have the option not to use the route," the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said in Putrajaya today.

Media reports had said that the toll increase would likely be between 30 sen and RM1, involving 13 highways mainly in the Klang Valley.

Abdul Wahid said concessionaires were required to conduct viability studies to ascertain if users were receptive to the proposed new toll rates prior to implementation.

"These projects are proposed and done by the private sector and government would determine based on the need, since we have to consider improving infrastructure at lower costs," he added.

The minister tasked with economic matters said that PLUS, the country's largest highway operator, has an agreement to maintain toll rates till 2015.

"With PLUS for example, there was a chance to lengthen the concession period and maintain the toll rates till 2015 and so we did that," Abdul Wahid said.

He also said that the proposed new rates are based on traffic volume.

The minister had told the press last week that the toll rate hike was unavoidable as it was an express condition in the concession agreement between the Government and highway concessionaires.

Abdul Wahid had said the toll rate should have been revised in 2011, as stated in the concession agreement.

"However, the rate was maintained, but the government had to fork out RM400 million in compensation from taxpayers' money, which could have been used for other purposes."

DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo had said that any agreement which has an impact on the people, like concession agreements, should contain clauses to give Putrajaya the right to control toll rates.

"This includes the right to reduce toll charges where it is shown that the volume of traffic on that highway has increased. This means the profit expected has been realised much earlier," he said. - TMI