KLANG: The government will not be able to implement any other development projects, if it abolishes tolls in all highways and expressways.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said monies collected from taxes, if used to buy-over tolled highways and expressways would in turn reduce government expenditure for other projects."
He said the rakyat must understand that if they don't pay for the roads, the government in turn will have to use money from its coffer on matters such as highway maintenance.
“The government pays from the people’s tax. In actual fact the people are paying (tax) through the government, including for the roads, that needs to be maintained.”
The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters at a press conference after launching Metrod Holdings Berhad new copper plant extension at Bukit Raja Prime Industrial Park here today.
Dr Mahathir said any move to abolish the toll rates would prove to be too expensivea and a burden for the government.
"If the government buys over, necessary money needs to be raised and loans will have to be serviced.
“Therefore the government plans to do this stage by stage and step by step”, he said.
Last week, the government announced that four highways and expressways in the Klang Valley have been targeted by the government as part of its proposed acquisition of tolled highways.
The highways involved are Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS) and SMART Tunnel.
The move is as part of Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s move to abolish toll collection in stages, a pledge which was part of its 14th General Election manifesto.
PH had promised in its election manifesto to take steps to acquire highway concessions and abolish toll collection in stages, in accordance to the terms of the concession.
Dr Mahathir said upon successful takeover of the highways, the Government intends to abolish the existing toll mechanism.
In its place, a ‘congestion charge’ will be introduced where commuters will only pay a ‘congestion charge’ equivalent to the existing toll for 6 hours of “peak” period a day.
During the “off-peak” period between 11pm and 5am, commuters will travel on the highway for free.
At other ‘normal’ traveling hours, commuters will enjoy discounted rates up to 30 per cent compared to existing toll rates.