Govt must consider imposing congestion charges, says Nik Nazmi

 

Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government would have to make a difficult decision on imposing congestion charges.

PETALING JAYA: The government must consider imposing congestion charges after public transport has reached a certain stage to make the city more sustainable, says natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He said discussions had been held on imposing congestion charges after the completion of the MRT3 line.

“It won’t be my decision, but something we have to consider if we want to talk about a more sustainable city moving forward,” Nik Nazmi said when officiating Prasarana’s sustainability blueprint at the BRT Sunway depot, here.

During the media conference, he said that imposing congestion charges would be a difficult decision that the government would have to make, just like when it introduced the targeted electricity tariff which compelled companies to explore solar energy.

“We have to bear in mind that we need to change our habits. Nothing has been decided, but you know, the government has to make difficult decisions.

“In the past year, for example, we started the journey towards the targeted electricity tariff, and after all the complaints and whatnot, many companies were compelled to start installing solar panels and energy efficiency measures,” he said.

Nik Nazmi added that currently, the focus is on finishing the construction of the MRT3, which will complete the connection between different rail lines.

In March last year, then transport minister Wee Ka Siong said congestion charges would be considered after the country has a comprehensive public transport network.

Also known as an environmental fee, Wee mentioned that it would be done after 2030. - FMT