Penang unhappy with no toll relief for bikers

Putrajaya’s refusal to exempt motorcyclists from toll charges on the second Penang bridge has disappointed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The bridge, named Bridge after the present Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, opened to public use on March 1.

Lim said the state government was equally disappointed that vehicles using the Touch & Go cards were also not provided a 20 percent discount, as they are for using the first Penang bridge.

According to Lim, the response given by the Works Ministry parliamentary secretary to his question on June 17 is that the government fears this would become “a precedent” for other toll bridges.

"How can BN be a people's government if it does not want to help the lower income group by exempting the toll charges for motorcyclists?" Lim asked.

"At the same time, the unwillingness to provide a 20 percent discount for Touch & Go card users is already having a negative impact as there are only 13,000 vehicles using the second bridge daily," he added.

"How can the target of 17,000 to 25,000 vehicles can be achieved without giving the 20 percent discount, as provided to motorists on the first Penang bridge?"

Lim said the toll fees for motorbikes on the second Penang bridge was higher, RM1.70 as compared to RM1.40 on the first bridge.

Those using the discount card need to pay RM5.60 (and not RM7.00) for cars, while motorcyclists pay RM1.12 (instead of RM1.40) when using the first bridge.

'No help to traffic congestion on first bridge'

"The difference between the two toll rates of the two bridges will not help reduce traffic congestion at the choke point on the first Penang bridge," Lim said.

In its reply, the Works Ministry said that the toll rate for the second bridge was fixed based on the concession agreement between the federal government and concessionaire, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd. (JKSB).

The ministry said the rate was based on factors such as construction and operational costs, traffic measurement, concession period and JKSB's term to repay it's loan.

"With this, the toll rate for use of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge is appropriate as it takes into account the entire cost of the project, which covers 24km compared to 13.5km at the first Penang bridge," the ministry said in its written reply.

It listed down the toll rates for motorists on the second Penang bridge for the period of five years, from Apri 1, this year to March 31, 2019:

• Class 0 (motorcycles) - RM1.70;

• Class 1 (4-tyre vehicles, except bus and taxi) -  RM8.50;

• Class 2 (6-tyre vehicles, except for bus) - RM30.50 ;

• Class 3 (vehicles with more than six tyres, except for bus) -  RM70.10

• Class 4 (taxi) - RM8.50;  and

• Class 5 (bus) – RM26.20.

 "As of now, the government currently has no intention to provide the 20 percent discount for motorists on the  Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge," the ministry said.

"Exemption of toll fees for motorcycles also cannot be implemented as we are worried it will become a precedent case for other toll bridges, like the Penang (first) bridge and Linkedua (second link to Singapore)," the ministry said.

The rates and terms for repayment for the loan to implement the second bridge project come under the jurisdiction of the Finance Ministry, the Works Ministry added.