RM232b to buy all highways, says Fadillah

Works Minister: The government makes RM250 billion a year and can't afford to nationalise highways.

PETALING JAYA: Works Minister Fadillah Yusof claims that the government cannot afford to nationalise highways.

Speaking at a forum here, he said the government’s revenue was about RM250 billion a year and it would cost it roughly RM231.6 billion to buy up all the highways in the country.

“If we want to nationalise all these highways, then the government will need to borrow more money and we’ll have to pay that back.”

He added that nationalising highways would also cause foreign investors to run away.

“Nationalization always leaves a negative impact and does not spur the economy,” he said. “We need to take care of our country’s image or the investors will lose confidence.”