Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching today called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak not to play Santa Claus for the sake of votes following the premier’s announcement to abolish two toll plazas along the Cheras-Kajang Highway yesterday.

NONE Instead of trying to be Father Christmas, Teo ( left ) said, Najib must reveal if this move has resulted in new concessions for the concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd at the expense of taxpayers.

“Najib should stop playing Santa Claus and be upfront and honest with all Malaysians as to whether the abolition of the two toll plazas will lead to an extension of the concession period for the Cheras-Kajang Highway or whether more compensation will be paid to Grand Saga Sdn Bhd,” she said in a statement today.

Teo pointed out that the highway which in 2010 raked in RM585.5 million in revenue despite a maintenance cost of RM147.31 million and RM282 million in construction cost, has had a history of obtaining lucrative concessions from the government.

“In 2003 and 2004, the government paid Grand Saga RM104.93 million in compensation apart from waiving interest on and repayment on a RM59 million support loan given to the concessionaire,” she said.

Effective today, the Batu 9 toll booth on the Kuala Lumpur-bound route and the Batu 11 toll booth on the Kajang-bound route would cease operations.

Najib had said that the move would essentially halve the charges for motorists travelling between both ends of the highway.

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