Shahbudin: Toll hike latest reason to throw out Najib

The Prime Minister lied to the people during the last General Election that the toll rates would not be increased.

KUALA LUMPUR: The toll issue itself is enough to throw out the Prime Minister from Putrajaya, noted a political analyst and Najib Razak critic in his latest blog posting. “As one who professes to be an Islamic leader, he should know the punishment for breaking solemn promises made to the people during the last General Election on the toll issue. He appears to belabour in the delusion that the people are fools.”

“If Najib claims that he was just making a political statement, he can’t get away from the fact that he made an ‘agreement’ with the people on the toll issue in order to fish for their votes.”

If the government has a “concession agreement” with the toll operators, said Shahbudin Husin the analyst, Najib should not open his mouth and make promises that he had no intention of keeping. “It’s no point blaming previous leaders for the tolls being imposed.”

Since these toll operators depend on government contracts, the concession agreements should be “re-negotiated” whether they are one-sided or otherwise, said Shahbudin. “The issue is that these toll operators are all cronies of the ruling coalition in Putrajaya. There’s even a Minister’s brother among these toll operators. So, it’s no use pointing fingers at former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.”

“The RM510 million compensation for toll operators for the period January to October this year alone in lieu of increased toll rates last year can be offset against government projects on fair terms. These projects should not, in turn, burden the people, just like the toll highways.”

Shahbudin noted that the government was willing to fork out RM430 million the year before in compensation, in lieu of toll increases, to the operators last year. “This money could have been saved through re-negotiated contracts.”