I refer to the report DAP to hold nationwide protests against toll hike .

When I first heard about this planned protest against Plus, I rolled my eyes at another typical Malaysian reaction that will have no real result in the end. However, I have changed my mind as the opposition is raising issues like the history of the project rather than just the coming toll hike itself.

The truth is the 10 percent Plus toll hike every three years is benign when compared to elsewhere. People who have traveled in Europe, Japan and China will know that increases there are even higher and worse.

It is clear the protest against the Plus toll increase is a protest against all matters related to the North-South Expressway project and even extends to the wrongdoings of the Mahathir administration itself.

The real crime of Plus is its history. From costs increases, cheap financing and extended concession periods, the project was exploited quite badly. What is worse is that the current management is trying to fool the people by saying that extending the concession period would enable them to upgrade the highway.

I remember Plus trying to convince investors that they could keep their cost of maintenance down to RM65 million per year. Last year, they spent RM650million. They have a habit of blowing up costs and passing the buck to the Malaysian public.

With the bunch of government-groomed accountants in charge now, they are getting even better at doing this and hence the RM700 million bill for new road widening project.

The bottom line is that accounting of public projects should not have any compromise. The people deserve the best public service, no less. There should not be any excuse particularly since the same political party has been in charge for so many years.

If it says that Plus is was a result of the previous administration then I say, 'If you do not like the dirt that comes with the family business, don't get into it'.