Recently, the government announced that it is considering a billion-ringgit proposal by highway concessionaire Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (Plus) to expand the North-South highway between Seremban and Ayer Keroh, and between Rawang and Tanjung Malim - a total distance of less than 100 km.

It is claimed that such an investment warranted due to the bad traffic jams on Friday and public holidays. In exchange for building this short section, Plus is asking for its concession for the entire North-South highway extended.

I travel between the sections frequently. Except for an occasional accident on holidays, I have not experienced this supposedly intolerable traffic jam - if they do occur, it largely occurs at the toll-booths.

At a time when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that all projects must be prudent and justified, the appearance of this proposal smells like a leftover waste of the Mahathir-era. It appears that the new young managers of United Engineering Malaysia (UEM) and Plus are likely nothing more than well-dressed degree-holding yuppies with the same skill-sets as the old cronies of Umno-BN

I call on the Malaysian public, especially auto-owners, to demand that the project be open to public scrutiny, with all feasibility and technical studies scrutinised by the public. Perhaps the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association should hire their own engineers to evaluate the project.

I also call on the Malaysian public to demand that no extension of concession of entire North-South highway be allowed. If a stretch of highway experiences heavy traffic as alleged, then the stretch should pay for itself. Any extension of concession should be limited to Seremban-Ayer Keroh and Rawang-Tanjung Malim.

In the past, concessions were extended for some companies, even for a limited amount of work. Examples include the recently dismantled Jalan Kuching toll gate and the Karak Highway. Even before the North-South highway was completed, the builders managed to negotiate a longer concession period.

Often, proposed projects are purposely overblown and used to justify extending the time period for an entire concession. With each extension of the concession, you always hear of rumours of corruption, with the silent majority failing to understand the technical details.

As a long-suffering auto-owner who has subsidised the national car industry for far too long, and have paid far too much toll, I say it is our right to demand that the government ensures that no concession for any utility or public good lasts beyond the first agreement.

If the concessionaire fails in its earlier projections and estimate, then it should bear the responsibility of those failures. If any unexpected real demand arises, then it should pay for itself and not by those who do not use it. I am taking bets that if the concession was not extended for the entire highway, it won't cost a billion ringgit.

Our new PM has made it clear that the private sector has to lead in development of this country. If we allow the old subsidy mentality to continue, there goes our new PM's gallant vision. Our country is sure bound for failure.