KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is claiming credit for the restructuring of four highway concessions that will cap their current toll rates until the end of their contracts.
Its presidential council has also urged the government to provide a full explanation to Parliament on the details of the new concession owner, Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Bhd (ALR).
Chiefly, the council wants clarity pertaining to the company’s financial obligations and expenditure transparency.
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the toll rates for four major highways in the Klang Valley will remain unchanged until the end of their concessions due to the restructuring of the four concession companies.
The restructuring will involve Kesas Sdn Bhd, which manages Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas); Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir dan Terowong Sdn Bhd, which manages the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (Smart); Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat Sdn Bhd, which manages the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme (Sprint) Expressway; and Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd, which manages the Damansara-Puchong (LDP) Expressway.
The prime minister said the restructuring of the four companies is expected to reduce compensation costs from January 1, 2022, until the end of the concession period, and enable the government to save at least RM4.3 billion in toll subsidies.
In a separate statement, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday said ALR, which is chaired by Tan Sri Azlan Mohd Zainol, has offered to buy 100% of shares in all four concessionaires.
According to Fadillah, all of ALR’s shares are not for profit.
To help the firm achieve the objectives of its establishment, the minister had said that the government has agreed to extend the concession period to Kesas, LDP, Sprint and Smart in exchange for not raising toll rates.
The PH presidential council said the progress made by the government today is a continuation of the efforts started by the PH government in October 2019, when the then cabinet decided in principle to begin the process to take over the highways.
“This proves that if PH had continued to govern the country beyond the 22 months and the Sheraton Move did not happen, various policies that will help ease the rakyat’s burden can be implemented,” it said.
“For example, PH had initiated efforts to end the highway concessions by reducing the toll rate for the North South Expressway (Plus) by 18% in 2020. In fact, PH had also planned to offer a 30% discount and free toll for 16 hours a day in the four aforementioned highways.
“As such, we urge the government to offer additional discounts to motorists of these four highways,” it said.
The statement was jointly signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau. – The Vibes, April 5, 2022
