The DAP has called on the government to reveal its long-term plan on eliminating highway toll charges, considering that the freeze on toll hikes still costs the people millions of ringgit in compensation to concessionaires.

“Right now we are paying RM18 million a year for five years just to reduce the toll charge along the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) from RM1.60 to RM1. This is just one toll, we have more highways and concessionaires. How much are we paying them?” asked Youth chief Anthony Loke at a press conference in Parliament today.

NONE He had earlier received a written parliamentary reply from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that the government spent RM90 million over five years (RM18 million per year) to reduce the NPE toll to RM1.

Loke ( left ) said he wants the government to reveal its long-term plan to reduce and finally eliminate toll charges, which he said continues to be a burden on the rakyat.

Other than just the short-term freeze on toll rates, which still costs a lot of money in terms of penalties paid to the concessionaires, Loke said the government should address the solution permanently.

“What is their long-term solution to this issue?” he asked.

He said this is an important issue which affects the people and needs to be addressed, something which he said Pakatan already looks to address in its Orange Book (reform plan).

The highway toll issue continues to be the bread and butter of opposition versus government debate, and the bone of contention for civil society groups unhappy with the recent toll hikes.

The government moved to pre-empt dissent with a moratorium on toll charge increases, but was then criticised for paying compensation to concessionaires.