Batang Baram bridge was officially opened by the Sarawak chief minister on Aug 30. In his opening ceremony speech, he said that the toll rate is yet to be decided by the state cabinet. Without the final decision by the state cabinet, the concessionaire of the bridge has started to collect toll since Sept 1.

The worst thing is the toll rate is RM10 per entry. This rate is very much on the high side compared to any privatised tolls rate in Malaysia. This has created unhappiness to most of the Malaysian professionals working in Brunei and other frequent users.

I am one of the many Sarawakian professionals working in Brunei. The opening of the bridge has no doubt benefited the users of both Sarawak and Brunei. Many professionals working in Brunei had started to move back to stay in Miri and commute daily. The move has somehow benefited the state especially Miri, whereby income received overseas are spent in the state. This has also contributed to the business growth in Miri.

Considering the above, I am representing Malaysian professionals working in Brunei in urging the government to take the following actions in order to resolve the issue before it gets worse:

1) Toll free until the state cabinet makes the final decision on the toll rate or at least minimum rate.

2) The government should ensure that the concessionaire offers a "season traveller's" rate as widely practised elsewhere. This will encourage more Malaysian working in Brunei to move back to Miri and commute daily.

3) Not to let the privatisation policy only benefit the private sector or certain parties withinterest in it and becoming a burden to the people of Sarawak.