The Penang government has appealed to the federal government to defer collection at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza along the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (Borr) until after four new non-toll alternative road projects are completed in the area.

State executive councillor Dr Teng Hock Nan said the state government, which made the decision to appeal at its weekly exco meeting, expected the federal government to make a decision before toll collection begins next Tuesday.

Although welcomed, several quarters remained doubtful over the state government's sincerity and motive behind its latest move.

"Why appeal now? Didn't the state government know before hand about the problem," asked Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Penang chairperson Zahrain Mohamad Hashim.

He accused the state government of seizing the opportunity to gain political mileage at the expense of the people.

He said the state government could have sought federal loans to carry out the four proposed projects and defer toll collection at Sungai Nyior long before if it was sincere in resolving the people's problems.

Baffling projects

The sudden emergence of the proposed four projects baffled Zahrain.

"Surely a study had been done and the projects were already in the pipeline. But the state government waited for a public protest before intervening to resolve the controversy merely to portray itself as a sensitive and caring government," he told malaysiakini .

He said the government should make Borr a toll-free road if it was sincere in helping the people.

The state government has decided to appeal and propose the alternative routes following strong protests by a group of residents and businessmen, who formed an Anti-Sungai Nyior Highway Toll Collection Alliance.

The proposed projects are a RM2 million new 300m road linking Jalan Todak and Jalan Chain Ferry through Taman Kimsar; road upgrading of Jalan Siram, Jalan Sungai Nyior and Jalan Permatang Pauh; a new road bridge across Prai river linking Jalan Jelawat in Seberang Jaya and Taman Bagan; and finally a 300m filter access road near the Sungai Nyior toll plaza to provide non-toll alternative routes for vehicles.

Teng, who handles the portfolios of local government, traffic management, information and community relations, told reporters that the projects would commence once the state government finalised the cost.

"The projects would be completed simultaneously within the next few months," he said.

Abolish toll

Meanwhile, Aliran treasurer Anil Netto said the government should abolish the Borr toll altogether to avoid extra financial burden on average income earners, instead of merely side-stepping the issue by proposing alternative routes.

"The protest is all about the financial burden on vehicle users, not for alternative routes. The authorities should abolish toll," he insisted.

The RM410 million Borr project is to disperse traffic in the inner Butterworth area. The16km ring road cuts across Butterworth along a coastal route to provide an outer link between the Penang Bridge and Sungai Dua toll plaza at the North-South Expressway.

Under the agreement between the federal government and Borr concessionaire, Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (Pg) Sdn Bhd (LLB), Borr will have three toll plazas - each at Prai, Bagan Ajam and Sungai Nyior. Vehicle users would have to pay toll between 50 sen and RM3.90, depending on the class of vehicles.

The toll collection will last for 30 years.

Update: The federal government has announced that toll collection at the Sungai Nyior booth has been suspended while collection at Prai and Bagan Ajam will begin on Feb 20.