KUANTAN: The Bentong Municipal Council (MPB) has issued a stop work order for the alleged construction of a toll gantry near Gohtong Jaya for visitors to the popular hilltop resort Genting Highlands in Bentong.
An MPB source said the stop work order was issued on Wednesday since the developer did not comply to the conditions or seek the approval from the local authorities before works began at the site.
"The developer has to submit a building plan, planning permission and plan consisting details about the piping, and road layout but the submission was incomplete. No permission was given to build the gantry," said the source today.
The source said while MPB was made to understand that the gantry was for the construction of toll booths, the approval to collect toll charges did not come under the council's jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, a state government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the operator had not put forward any proposal to introduce a one-way trip toll charge for Genting Highlands-bound holidaymakers.
"If there is such a plan, it should be brought to the attention of the Pahang government including the state government's investment and privatisation department before it is discussed at the state executive council (exco) meeting," he said.
It is learnt that although the proposed toll is built on private land, the Finance ministry and Transport ministry had to be consulted on toll collection.
Yesterday, a Chinese daily reported that motorists travelling to Genting Highlands would soon have to pay toll charges and that Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd, which is in charge of maintaining the roadworks in Genting, would manage the toll's operations.
Pahang Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said the matter had never been discussed during the state executive council meeting.