We have no jurisdiction over Genting toll station, says LLM

 

A photograph posted on social media showing a gantry under construction off the Batang Kali-Gohtong Jaya road in Pahang. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian highway authority (LLM) has reversed its position, admitting that it has no jurisdiction over a toll station that is reportedly being built in Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands.

Referring to photos that went viral showing the toll station under construction, the works ministry and LLM said the matter did not fall under its purview as the road was not designated as a federal road.

“The road in question is a private road and it has nothing to do with the Kuala Lumpur-Karak (KL-Karak) highway,” LLM said in a statement.

On Oct 22, the highway authority denied having given any approval for the construction of the toll station, where a gantry had been erected.

LLM chairman Jalaluddin Alias was reported to have said that no application had been received from the developer of the toll station.

He added that there might have been an assumption because the land is privately owned, that there was no need to apply to the Pahang state government, the works ministry, or to LLM itself.

“The land is in private hands, but any construction is still bound by the law,” he was quoted as saying.

The plan to charge toll on the road to Genting Highlands was first reported on Oct 19, with Sin Chew Daily quoting a spokesman for Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd, which manages roads on the highland, as saying the company would manage the toll operations.

However, the Bentong municipal council was reported to have issued a stop work order as the developer did not comply with the conditions or sought approval from the local authorities before commencing work.

It was also reported that the plans submitted by the developer for planning permission were incomplete.

The Pahang state government was also reported to be in the dark over the plans for a toll station. - FMT