RM2.05 bil from tax payers’ money for toll concessionaires
(Harakah Daily) – KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 27: Since the eighties to end of last year, the government has paid some RM2.05 billion in cash as ‘compensation’ for delaying toll hikes to 27 toll concessionaires, according to the Works ministry.
In a written parliamentary reply to Bagan member of parliament Lim Guan Eng, the ministry explained that the Federal government had to pay compensation for postponing toll hikes as stipulated in the concessionaires agreements.
“The government also need to pay compensation for other factors such as the decision to eliminate toll charges at Salak Jaya and Sungai Besi, and the condition of giving 50 percent discount on toll charges for buses under the jurisdiction of PLUS Expressways Berhad,” said the ministry, adding that compensation would also need to be paid for not implementing restriction order at the New North Klang Straits Bypass.
As of December 31, 2010, the RM6 billion North-South Highway (PLUS) received the biggest compensation at RM735.2 million followed by the RM1.08 billion Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) at RM631.3 million, and the Penang Bridge, which cost RM943.5 million to build, being compensated at RM181.23 million.
