BN criticises us on Plus toll but never tried to reduce it - Guan Eng

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has taken to task BN critics of the recent toll reduction policy, saying that they have "forgotten history" as such a move was never implemented by the previous BN government.

Lim said toll concessions have been previously extended in the past 20 years but never had the toll rates been reduced.

"Instead the toll rates were either maintained or increased, but this time we reduced it by 18 percent for the period of the concession," Lim told reporters in Seberang Jaya today, after presenting RM100 cheques to 660 primary school children in Bagan.

Lim cited the example of the first Penang bridge, where toll rates were maintained.

He said Harapan's move to reduce the toll rates by 18 percent in several highways under Plus was quite "significant".

"So for those who never reduced toll rates, to criticise us is a bit out of place," said the DAP secretary-general.

"Please look at the mirror, we hope the people will understand the difference in policy (between then and now)," he added.

Lim (below) was referring to what Harapan described as a "positive approach" to ensure the well-being of the people when toll rates were reduced despite an extension in concessions.

Yesterday, in Bukit Gelugor, Lim said Harapan was taking measures to benefit the people unlike previously when only private companies raked in the profits.

He also reminded that the 18 percent toll reduction would be maintained until 2058.

However, the 18 percent toll reduction would not apply to buses and trucks but further clarification on the matter would be made at a later date.

Bernama reported that the Prime Minister's Office announced a toll reduction to begin as early as Feb 1 and there will be no hikes until 2058.

The highways include the North-South Expressway (NSE), New Klang Valley Express (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite), Malaysian Singapore Second Link (Linkedua), East Coast Highway Phase Two (LPT2), Port-Dickson-Seremban Highway (SPDH), Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) and Penang Bridge (JPP).

Lim said Harapan was working on removing tolls but currently, it will try to reduce them to a minimum rate.

"People may ask why not just abolish tolls? Talk is easy, but if not for 1MDB, there would be no problem," he said.

"We suffered RM150 billion losses due to 1MDB but only managed to recover RM47 billion, we still need to recover RM103 billion," he added.

"To abolish toll concession, we need RM45 billion, where do we find the money when RM150 billion was burnt, stolen in the 1MDB scandal?".

"How could we have known that 1MDB would be so bad, or else we would have no problem to do so," he stressed.

Lim asked why Harapan could reduce toll rates when the previous BN administration could not do it.

"Because they cared more for the private companies, while we are more concerned about the people, " he said.

Lim said whenever the government had profits, it would return it to the people.

"We nationalise profits while BN kept it within a small group". - Mkini