Pua: Lest you forget Najib, you raised toll prices in 2015

The federal government led by Najib Abdul Razak had failed to fulfil its promise of reducing toll rates and instead raised toll charges in the Klang Valley in 2015, said Damansara MP Tony Pua.

In a statement today, Pua said BN had promised in its 2013 election manifesto to pursue a "gradual" reduction in toll prices but instead raised toll prices for nine highways.

The nine highways are Kajang Traffic Dispersal Ring Road, the Duta-Ulu Kelang Ex­­press­way (Duke), Maju Expressway, the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway, the Smart Tunnel, the New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Besraya High­way and Lebuhraya Kajang Serem­ban (Lekas).

Pua said that in contrast, the Pakatan Harapan government had succeeded in reducing toll charges by 18 percent for highways operated by Plus Malaysia Bhd without having to pay anything as compensation.

Had the arrangement with Plus remained the same, Pua said the government would have had to compensate RM26 billion by 2038.

"The monies saved will now be distributed to the rakyat, including Sabah and Sarawak... and not to toll operators," he said.

Last week, the federal government announced that Plus would have to reduce toll charges by 18 percent across all the toll booths it operates and maintain the same charges until 2058.

Following this, Najib had repeatedly taunted the Harapan government for extending Plus' contract by 20 years and instead, boasted how his administration had managed to remove three toll booths in 2018.

In response to this, Pua said the removal of three toll booths came with a price - a RM856 million compensation bill to Plus, which is still owed today.

"Luckily, the new plan announced by the current prime minister will see Plus forgiving the government for the debt.

"This will allow the federal government to use the funds for other purposes that will bring benefit to the people," he said. - Mkini