The federal government is continuing to receive brickbats over the impending raise in highway toll rates next year, with its own BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) urging it to stick to its election manifesto to reduce toll charges.

NONE The BN, in its manifesto for the 13th general election to woo voters, had promised to reduce intra-city toll charges in stages.

“The main point here is that our manifesto states that toll charges will be reduced in stages and because of this, the BNBBC hopes there will not be any increase at all,” its chairperson Shahrir Samad ( left ) is quoted as saying in The Star Online .

However, Shahrir said, the BNBBC would not formally object to the government on the hike as there is no confirmation yet on the matter.

“The issue is still being discussed by the government and, as things stand, our members, comprising MPs from many different constituencies, do not all have the same view on the subject because not of all of them have tolled roads in their areas.

“However, we are also mindful that not raising toll charges will mean that there may be a cost which the government will need to incur,” he is quoted as saying.

The same matter was raised yesterday by BN’s Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who urged the government to keep to the “ spirit of its promises ” over the toll hike issue, as per its election promise.

NONE Meanwhile, Perak PAS Youth chief Dr Raja Ahmad Iskandar Al-Hiss ( right ) has questioned the effectiveness of the planned laboratory to study the cost of living in the country, as announced by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, in addressing the slew of price hikes.

According to Khairy, who is also UmnoYouth chief, the laboratory will be set up under the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the Prime Minister’s Department.

“Will it (the laboratory) be able to solve the main problem of rising costs? Will, by the formation of the laboratory, the costs of daily essentials which have gone up be reduced?” Raja Ahmad asked in a statement.

Closer to home, he questioned if Perak Umno Youth will form a similar “action body” to solve rising costs in the state, while challenging it to a debate on the matter.

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