Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon have called for an independent panel to be put together to review the concession agreements of tolled highways.

koh tsu koon 100907 “An independent panel should be formed to assist the government in reviewing and renegotiating all toll concession agreements so as to ensure fairness and reduce overall toll rates of all tolled highways in the long run,” Koh said in a statement today.

He said that a major overall review is vital to prioritise the public’s interest and to restore public confidence.

Meanwhile, the cabinet at its weekly meeting today chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had apparently heard the call by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to review the toll hike.

It has decided to suspend toll hikes of up to 33 per cent for five major highways in the Klang Valley announced yesterday.

Abdullah was concerned that public anger over the latest hike could affect BN’s popularity especially ahead of three crucial by-elections.

The five affected highways were North-South Expressway (Plus), Sprint Highway (Sprint), Ampang Elevated Highway (Akleh), Sungai Besi Highway (Besraya) and New Pantai Expressway (NEP).

Drive a hard bargain first

According to Koh, a major review is needed, especially since the recent disclosure to the public of the major toll agreements. “These agreements were weighted very much in favour of concessionaire companies, and against public interest.”

plus highway 050105 toll booths Furthermore, he said the concession companies would always ask for the sky, so “it’s up to the government to be alert and firm enough to drive a hard bargain in the public interest before signing any agreement.”

Although there are problems related to the fact that the government is legally bound by the concession agreements signed earlier, “the proposed panel should look into how to overcome such problems”.

Koh also called for the formulas of toll increases to be amended in the interest of the rakyat.

“The formulas should be more reasonable so that the concessionaire companies would no longer reap excessive profits at the expense of road users and the rakyat.”

He also mentioned that the panel should also deliberate on various options for the government, for example whether to buy back the concessions, take over or hold equity with golden shares in concessionaire companies.

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