Wahid's toll hike comment patronising, says PKR
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar's remark that road users who do not want to pay the raised toll rates can use trunk roads instead, is "patronising" and shows "lack of accountability," said PKR.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar's remark that road users who do not want to pay the raised toll rates can use trunk roads instead, is "patronising" and showed "lack of accountability," said PKR.
Instead of "hiding behind concession agreements", its deputy president Azmin Ali (
right
) said that the government should consider the financial strain it will add on Malaysians.
"We would like to remind the unelected federal minister to stop patronising the people and not be arrogant when making statements...
"Do not hide behind the concession agreements and challenge the people with this take-it-or-leave-it scenario.
"This proposed hike together with the other planned price hikes poses a major threat to the welfare of the people," he said in a statement.
He added that many people have no choice but to use tolled roads, and concession agreements are not "convincing proof" to justify the hike now.
"There is no use in the government harping on how well our stock market is doing or how impressive are our growth rates when the reality is that the man in the street continues to suffer to meet the rising cost of living," he said.
RM400 million in compensation
While the exact quantum of the toll rate hike is not yet determined, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof was reported today as saying that the rates will raised between 50 sen to RM2.
Both Fadillah (
right
) and Abdul Wahid insist that without the rate hike, the government will have to foot RM400 million in compensation to the concessionaires.
Fadillah said that the concession agreement stipulates that a rate hike must kick in every three years and six years has passed since the last hike.
Last week a Works Ministry spokesperson denied rumours that toll rates will go up by 30 sen to RM1 depending on highway, saying that no decision has been made yet.
The proposed toll rate hike comes along with a hike in electricity tariff, fuel pump prices and sugar prices.
However, the government is cushioning the blow by expanding the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia, adjusting income tax thresholds and shielding electricity users who use less than 300kWh per month, from the power tariff hike.
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