Baru says 'no new tolls'

PARLIAMENT | Works Minister Baru Bian assured that the Pakatan Harapan government will not approve new toll concessions in the country.

"If it is a new one which has yet to be approved, I give my assurance," he said during the winding up of the royal decree debate at Dewan Rakyat today.

The PKR vice-president was responding to Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) who posed the question to him.

"I want an assurance that the Pakatan Harapan government will no longer approve tolled highway concession in Malaysia," he asked.

The Harapan government, which promised in its election manifesto to abolish all tolls in the country, is currently studying the financial implications and the methods of implementation.

"Based on the previous statement, the overall cost to take over the tolls is RM400 million," he said, adding the abolition of tolls will be implemented in stages.

In its election promises, Harapan said infrastructure like roads and highways is the responsibility of the government.

Harapan said it would renegotiate to obtain the best value when taking over the concessions. - Mkini