Toll hike - translation blunder in BN election manifesto

Did BN go back on their 2013 election manifesto by allowing highway concessionaires to raise toll rates starting Oct 15?

Yes and no. The culprit? A translation bungle.

According to the Bahasa Malaysia version of their election manifesto, BN had promised not to raise tolls for antara bandar highways. This means highways which connect one city to another, or intercity highways.

'Mengurangkan bayaran toll antara bandar secara berperingkat-peringkat,' the Bahasa version reads.

However, the English version of the manifesto promised 'the gradual reduction of intra-city tolls.'

This means highways which connect different parts of the same city.

These are like the 18 highways, mostly in the Klang Valley, for which toll rates will go up starting Thursday.

The Chinese version of the manifesto also says 'intra-city' while the Tamil versionalso states told reduction of tolls for 'highways in cities'.

The correct Bahasa Malaysia translation for intra-city is dalam bandar and not antara bandar.

It was announced yesterday that toll rates for the 18 highways will go up by 18 to 100 percent for private cars. Rates differ based on vehicle classes and entry and exit points.

Most of the highways are intra-city highways serving the Klang Valley.

However, Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban (Lekas) connects to Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar) connects to Ijok in semi-rural Selangor while the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway connects to Pahang.

Toll plazas or toll rates?

The announcement comes after the Land Transport Commission (Spad) said LRT fares will go up starting next month, but the rates have yet to be announced.

The Works Ministry said the government has spent RM1.5 billion subsidising tolls since 2008, and see it more fit to use the funds for other development projects to benefit more people.

It said the hike is in line with the gradual increase agreed upon in the concession agreements.

There is also a translation confusion on whether BN promised to reduce the number of toll plazas or toll rates.

Only the Bahasa version expressly states that BN is promising a gradual reduction of 'bayaran tol', referring to toll rates.

   Toll hikes starting Oct 15*

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