Toll hike: 'Half-true Samy'
SAC, a Thailand-based Screenshots reader wrote me this:
I've been staying in Thailand for 9 years and there are NO tolls on Thai HIGHWAYS. The tolls are only in Bangkok metropolitan areas and there-abouts. You can drive from Bukit Kayu Hitam to Bangkok without paying one Baht, so Samy Vellu making a comparison with Thailand is telling only half the story.
Comments
Highways in Bangkok metropolitan areas were constructed in multi level with 4 lanes each. Comparable to Malaysia, our highways looks inferior compared to what is available in Bangkok.
Samy Vellu knows nuts about highway in Bangkok.
Posted by: Quest
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December 15, 2006 10:25 AM
at least Bangkok elevated highway wont crack like MRR2.
Posted by: Ah Hong
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December 15, 2006 10:35 AM
Who is paying for the newly refurbished MRR2 highway? Is that why the new toll rate is now up to 60% increase? Any info on this?
Posted by: f3030
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December 15, 2006 10:38 AM
Thanx for posting this information Jeff. Good to know. "Tidak tahu malu".
I just read the news, front page theSun this morning (15/12/06).
With a typical picture of Samy Vellu's smug (muka angkuh)face.
One that tells us to just swallow it and dun bother complaining or whine
(tidak puas hati) about it.
The government can do whatever they like without a single hint of
justification (sebab munasabah) or accountability (tanggung jawab keatas
akibat)
Oh yes, I am FORCED to change my lifestyle.
Tell you (present government) what, we will return the favour, every single
"contribution"
Posted by: lance
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December 15, 2006 10:41 AM
this is not in support of samy 'feefty-sen-cannot-even-buy-seeguhruht' velu, but if the road from Pattaya to Bangkok is anything to go by, it can hardly qualify as a highway. the roads down south are even worse. there are no proper exit ramps - all exits are t-junctions and these 'highways' also boast t-junctions on the right.
Posted by: mat
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December 15, 2006 10:57 AM
it's high time we exercise our voting rights. we need to say "thanks" to the govt for all the lovely presents we have been getting lately
Posted by: DarkAeon
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December 15, 2006 11:23 AM
Folks
The ignorance of our Barisan National minister... oh! coming from MIC leadership.
He should spend his time comparing the fate of the Malaysian Indians in the estates, the policy o destruction of Hindu temples while he kept his mouth shut under that crop of hair over his head, instead of commenting about our neighbours.
There is only one response: What an idiot!
Posted by: Frank&Honest
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December 15, 2006 11:26 AM
There are NO TOLLS too
in
Beijing, shanghai, guangzhou, as same region areas equal to KLANG VAlley!
Posted by: kenDO
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December 15, 2006 11:27 AM
DarkAeon
It is the time of the year when our Govt asked its citizens to show our love and appreciation for all the good works it has done for the citizens... by paying more tolls.
Malaysian Indians, especially in the estates, whom he done virtually nothing to uplift their desperate situation, love Samy Vellu, and he has been the MIC chief for donkey years
What is a couple of sens contribution in appreciation of the good work of this UMNO-led Barisan National Govt?
You see, through the toll increase, the ruling political parties can get the Season's gifts from its beloved citizens by bypassing the corruption laws.
Malaysians LOVE the ruling parties running THIS Govt, why else then should Malaysians have been voting them in, consecutively since 1957, to look after your interest??
Posted by: Frank&Honest
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December 15, 2006 11:35 AM
Please take note that
China, Philipine, Thailand and indonesia government DOES NOT SUBSIDIES their highway.
And both Thailand and China highway are 4 lanes for each side.
Posted by: moo_t
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December 15, 2006 11:40 AM
sorry, just to clarify my fact. The above mentioned highways I mean are TOL way.
Posted by: moo_t
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December 15, 2006 11:42 AM
This I can tell about Thailand since I travel there extensively. There are almost no close toll systems(maybe one in) in Thailand.Most tolls are in Bangkok and open system whereby you pay once when you pass thru. Other than that ,traveling around Thailand is on dual carriageways which are made from concrete and are TOLL FREE!!!
So Samy stop bull shitting!!! So what PI or China is higher? Just cos they may be corrupt and charge higher, does it mean we should too. Yeah just check out PI highways(sufferways). And Samy what is the quantum of increase in those countries??
This BN govt negotiated this kind of lop side contract!! So screw you guys!!!! Wait till GE, we will teach you a lesson.
Posted by: rocky
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December 15, 2006 11:48 AM
BTW the cars are freaking cheaper in all the countries Samy mentioned. The damn govt collects Billions in taxes from cars. BN govt screws the rakyat.
Pak Lah you are full of shit, sorry to tell you that. In the worse times of any of our previous PM, none has been like your time. and you have the balls to give interviews and lie about things. You say 3 good years? We say 3 worse years in Malaysian history!!! Gomen Bodoh!!!
Balik Pak Lah!!! Balik ke Perth!!!
Posted by: rocky
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December 15, 2006 12:05 PM
well here's wht the star say..
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/15/nation/16324826&sec=nation
duh
Posted by: adieu1999
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December 15, 2006 12:23 PM
For those who commute alone to work, downgrade to a scooter with auto gearbox and four stroke engine. It is economical and evironmentally friendly plus maybe exempted from tolls.
For those who have a family to transport, too bad as you have been neglected by the government/Proton and will have to pay high import duties for the MPV plus tolls.
highways in Thailand are actually four lane main roads which cuts through town and villages, much like our upgraded federal roads. And if you travel to pattaya from bangkok on this main road, be prepared to face snarling traffic and chaotic junctons. The ones in the south to Haadyai from bukit kayu hitam is a fine example of the Thai main roads. But these are not highways and should be driven with care as there are pedestrian, cyclist schoolchildren who are road users and have as much right to use this facility as you do.
Posted by: sydput
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December 15, 2006 12:28 PM
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians should embrace a charitable mindset and lend a helping hand to the poor at all times, not just during festive seasons, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday.
When you give higher toll rates, you help the government in collecting more funds. The people with cars, they can afford. You do not need to worry. When you pay higher water bill and electricity bill, it helps the government. When you agree to petroleum price hike and the removal of petroleum subsidy, you allow more funds to get into my pocket... oopps that was a mistake, please do not quote that reporters.
You see when we collect more money from the citizens, we have more funds to put into the 9th Malaysian Plan. That is the difference between me and my former mentor, the former premier. I ensure that we have more funds to do projects. In the end, the projects benefit me and my family. Oh, I mean the projects benefit the UMNO politicians... oh someone must be putting jampi on me. That is why we need to continue make use of the NEP to help the Bumiputera and continue to collect more funds from the people. The people are rich. They can afford another 30 cents to RM1 twice a day. Sedikit sedikit, lama lama jadi bukit. Hohohoho. This will be a merry christmas for me.
Posted by: hawaiichee
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December 15, 2006 01:47 PM
Oops, is Barisan problem, so don't release your anger to you own son.
Weeks ago, an early warning...Samy must have warned you already. If you are not happy, please go back to your kampong and vote there.
I must warn you, my place has been since 1986, is under uncle kit control, this 2008 GE, even uncle kit takes control on all Bandar and rubber estates seats, Pak Long will still be Pak Long, unless you hit back to your own kampong.
Please don't beat your children, not their faults, is the environment which is totally wrong...
You know what I meant.
Posted by: BaganSPU
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December 15, 2006 02:31 PM
Dear DarkAeon, lance and rocky,
If you are staying and making in Malaysia,
Let me tell you...Our bright & understood voters had wake up since 1986, uncle kit himself have to moved from Melaka to Penang and now in Perak during these years. Moving place to place, yet
but thought I have a "bosia" YB around, his opponent were still not able to top him down. So you don't worry about my place here, he is stronger than steel. But I am more worry onto your own kampong, to be or not to be? Saudara.
And F&H, are you still vote here?
Posted by: BaganSPU
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December 15, 2006 02:43 PM
either they are dumb or just hiding the facts. thailand, philippines, indonesia and china. their main transport is the bus, bike n bicycle. so it is fair to have higher toll since the one who could own a car is the rich guy.
in kl, nearly everyone needs car as our public transport is bad and bicycle is totally out of the question because we need to travel far. bike, it's a stress to drive here somemore a bike? totally out of the question.
so the problem here is tat our leaders do not know how to think or count. everytime price increase, they tell us the stupid excuse......
Posted by: lovehurts
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December 15, 2006 02:45 PM
Yep... Hugh toll increase which in my mind cannot be justified. Though it IS a Mahathir era legacy (as is Samy Vellu), the just-announced toll increase still is happening during the current administration. Another nail in BN's coffin as far as I am concerned.
Together with recent nails like Hisham's keris antics, like Zakaria's istana, like Khairy's ECM Libra-Avenue and other 'memooorable' incidents
This Malaysian tidak mudah lupa!
I had hope in Pak Lah. Hope which is fast vanishing, and I am finding it hard - very, very hard - to find cause to vote BN in the next General Elections.
Posted by: Leithaisor
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December 15, 2006 02:49 PM
I'm not a numerologist, but this is what i observe and it's look like we Malaysian in a very bad luck. Chinese believe 4 as "Sei" and "13" is consider bad number for many. Here are what we have :
> Our PM loves 4 especially 13 and 31 . That's why he choose to step in as PM on 31 st October 2003..
> Now we have 13/b> th Agong who sworn in on 13th of December 2006
I know there is a lot of 4 factors in this Government but just can't remember now.. If anyone can list more will add-in once pop-up in mind
Posted by: ManmathanXpress
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December 15, 2006 02:52 PM
fyi, 4 is lucky number for malays...
Posted by: taiko_besar
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December 15, 2006 03:17 PM
The hike in toll fees speaks a lot of the incompetency of those who are entrusted to run the country. The rakyats must not held to ransom for such incompetency. Each time when a hike is announced, the issue of govenment having to compensate the highway companies, such and such billion of ringgits. The question the rakyat should ask: why in the first place, you have nimcoompoofs negotiating for agreements which are highly lopsided in favour of the toll way companies. Wai!, this does not make economic sense! In any business, there is a calculated risk element. The same goes to the GLCs which the taxpayers have to bail them out for a hefty sum of over RM10billion. Imagine, how much can this sum do to upgrage the facilities for hospitals and education etc.
Coming back to the toll highways, there must be a certain amount of risk involved anf this is accpted. The government should at least look into the final accounting of these companies to see how much money eachof these is making before agreeing to a hike! How much is enough to compensate for invesating in the highways. Perhaps, it is time that thew country take over all these highways and provide the rakyat free expressway.
Samy must go to Shanghai to see how the Chinese there construct highways, there is no such thing as the MRR2 where short change is the order of the day irregardless whether dangers are caused. The Shanghai hihways can go as high as 6 to 7 storeys and criss-crossing each other. One thing the Shanghai government disd for their people, NO TOLL is collected and there is continously upgrading. I do not understand why, they can do it and why we cannot? The answer lies in the pocket and whose pockets? The rakyats know very well all the piratizations that have been going on for years and we do not see any stopping! The bud stops here.
The rakyats must now exercise their rights and vote out incompetncy!
Posted by: peterpan
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December 15, 2006 03:31 PM
Guys, come Jan 1 it's only going to be toll hike. Don't be surprise if petrol goes up too. It's bound to happen as no hike for a year. Maybe not Jan but pretty soon.
Then, where to pluck the moneylah.
Posted by: mystory
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December 15, 2006 06:16 PM
The government seems to forget that driving in the Klang Valley is a necessity rather than a luxury, and the highway system is an essential service, much akin to water,eletricity and the phone.
The rise in the toll charges is a classical example of privatisation or rather 'piratisation' that has terribly gone wrong.
In the hey days of the old administration, all and sundry essential services, were privatised. Legions of businessmen would descend on the EPU to submit their proposals.Some of these were original proposals, while others were pliagarised from projects that were submitted by others.
It would not be wrong to say that many of these projects were quoted at inflated prices. This is what happens when you have a closed tender system. The 'winners' represented the cream de la cream of the Malaysian corporate world, and most had very close connections to the ruling party.
Profits were skimmed off in the following fashion.
1. Inflated construction costs; Often these construction companies were affliated to the primary company or connected to the directors and shareholders.
2. Payoffs to various authorities ( You now what I mean)for quick approval. Did the regulatory authorities conduct a due diligent study on the anticipated traffic volume as submitted by the project proposers?
3. Guarantees by the government to compensate for any shortfalls. Who were the guarantors? None other than the poor taxpayers and road users . The government is now holding both these parties to ransom, with statements that if the toll charges are not increased than the burden falls on the tax payer.How can the tax payer or road user be blamed, when both these parties were in the dark regarding these 'closed door' negotiations.
This same modus operandi was used in the negotiations for a host of other 'piratised' projects including the IPPs, Indah Water and Syabas.
It is unfortunate that the brunt of this failed piratisation exercise, will now fall on the shoulders of the average man on the street. The cost of living will increase for the average Joe and Jane.
The cronies who siphoned off the the profits at the early stage of construction, are laughing their way to the bank.
No wonder all the high end luxury bungalows in the Klang Valley ( prices from 2.5 to 10 million)and million dollar condominiums near the KLCC are being snapped up.
What we are now witnessing is a ROBIN HOOD IN REVERSE.
Posted by: malaysianpatriot
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December 15, 2006 06:37 PM
The government seems to forget that driving in the Klang Valley is a necessity rather than a luxury, and the highway system is an essential service, much akin to water,eletricity and the phone.
The rise in the toll charges is a classical example of privatisation or rather 'piratisation' that has terribly gone wrong.
In the hey days of the old administration, all and sundry essential services, were privatised. Legions of businessmen would descend on the EPU to submit their proposals.Some of these were original proposals, while others were pliagarised from projects that were submitted by others.
It would not be wrong to say that many of these projects were quoted at inflated prices. This is what happens when you have a closed tender system. The 'winners' represented the cream de la cream of the Malaysian corporate world, and most had very close connections to the ruling party.
Profits were skimmed off in the following fashion.
1. Inflated construction costs; Often these construction companies were affliated to the primary company or connected to the directors and shareholders.
2. Payoffs to various authorities ( You now what I mean)for quick approval. Did the regulatory authorities conduct a due diligent study on the anticipated traffic volume as submitted by the project proposers?
3. Guarantees by the government to compensate for any shortfalls. Who were the guarantors? None other than the poor taxpayers and road users . The government is now holding both these parties to ransom, with statements that if the toll charges are not increased than the burden falls on the tax payer.How can the tax payer or road user be blamed, when both these parties were in the dark regarding these 'closed door' negotiations.
This same modus operandi was used in the negotiations for a host of other 'piratised' projects including the IPPs, Indah Water and Syabas.
It is unfortunate that the brunt of this failed piratisation exercise, will now fall on the shoulders of the average man on the street. The cost of living will increase for the average Joe and Jane.
The cronies who siphoned off the the profits at the early stage of construction, are laughing their way to the bank.
No wonder all the high end luxury bungalows in the Klang Valley ( prices from 2.5 to 10 million)and million dollar condominiums near the KLCC are being snapped up.
What we are now witnessing is a ROBIN HOOD IN REVERSE.
Posted by: malaysianpatriot
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December 15, 2006 06:38 PM
The government seems to forget that driving in the Klang Valley is a necessity rather than a luxury, and the highway system is an essential service, much akin to water,eletricity and the phone.
The rise in the toll charges is a classical example of privatisation or rather 'piratisation' that has terribly gone wrong.
In the hey days of the old administration, all and sundry essential services, were privatised. Legions of businessmen would descend on the EPU to submit their proposals.Some of these were original proposals, while others were pliagarised from projects that were submitted by others.
It would not be wrong to say that many of these projects were quoted at inflated prices. This is what happens when you have a closed tender system. The 'winners' represented the cream de la cream of the Malaysian corporate world, and most had very close connections to the ruling party.
Profits were skimmed off in the following fashion.
1. Inflated construction costs; Often these construction companies were affliated to the primary company or connected to the directors and shareholders.
2. Payoffs to various authorities ( You now what I mean) for quick approval. Did the regulatory authorities conduct a due diligent study on the anticipated traffic volume as submitted by the project proposers?
3. Guarantees by the government to compensate for any shortfalls. Who were the guarantors? None other than the poor taxpayers and road users . The government is now holding both these parties to ransom, with statements that if the toll charges are not increased than the burden falls on the tax payer.How can the tax payer or road user be blamed, when both these parties were in the dark regarding these 'closed door' negotiations.
This same modus operandi was used in the negotiations for a host of other 'piratised' projects including the IPPs, Indah Water and Syabas.
It is unfortunate that the brunt of this failed piratisation exercise, will now fall on the shoulders of the average man on the street. The cost of living will increase for the average Joe and Jane.
The cronies who siphoned off the the profits at the early stage of construction, are laughing their way to the bank.
No wonder all the high end luxury bungalows in the Klang Valley ( prices from 2.5 to 10 million)and million dollar condominiums near the KLCC are being snapped up.
What we are now witnessing is a ROBIN HOOD IN REVERSE.
Posted by: malaysianpatriot
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December 15, 2006 06:40 PM
Sigh...These things keep happening because we Malaysia citizens are very 'tolerance'. If you read sinchew jit poh, you'll read a lot of columns mentioning foreigners often find Malaysia are very tolerance (which they find unbelievable).
Posted by: BonjourMsia
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December 15, 2006 09:42 PM
i too have travelled on highways in thailand. didn't pay any tolls. the first thing that struck me too was how well the roads were made.
an engineer once told me that if highways are built properly, they should last 20 years with minimum maintenance. do our roads measure up?
p.s. if any of you are in the business of maintaining roads, move your headquarters to sabah. we reseal our roads with 3 inches of tar about every 8 months; or just before the prime minister comes for a visit.
Posted by: babyjue
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December 16, 2006 12:08 AM
Can we express our displeasure and disgust at this round of toll hike by not using all the toll road?
I am most aware it will cause a tremendous inconvenience to every one. But can we see road like LDP, Ampang highway, Guthrie HIghway and all the highway without any vehicles on usually busy day? A kind of quiet protest?
We would be stucked in long queue in roads that has no tolled but is this not one of the way to send out our displeasure?
Alternative: Federal Highway, Kajang-KL highway, we can try to bypass the toll area, Kesas we can use Puchong-Sungai Besi highway.
Just imagine, all the toll plazas without any vehicles going through it on Monday to Friday morning between 7am and 10am, and afternoon between 4pm and 7pm.
Posted by: twotablet
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December 16, 2006 12:27 AM
Malaysianpatriot... u talking about me? hahaha.
Let's just vote for another robin hood! I am Robin Hood, and I will not steal from the poor for the rich!
Damn u gomen, its big and little napoleons!
Posted by: robin hood
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December 16, 2006 03:18 AM
Are you guys really serious about making a change? Many that voiced their concerns and grievances here and elsewhere like in Malaysia Today have not even registered as voters choosing to let others do their dirty work for them because they are lazy!
If you are really serious about wanting to make a change and save the country, register as a voter today at any post office and vote the BN out. Otherwise, you are NOT entitled to whine.
Posted by: merdeka
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December 16, 2006 08:47 AM
I really don't see the reason why there should ever be any toll increases made. It is a lopsided concession that favours the operators. And, it is the freaking Govt and SAmy that made the contract. They should be responsible.
1. The volume of cars on the roads increases year-on-year so there is enough increase in vehicles to create the increased wealth to these toll operators. So, any demands for increase is reasonable.
2. If the Govt is still subsidising RM0.50 sen on the tolls despite the increase, why then should the Govt still compensate the Toll operators by paying a hefty penalty to the toll operators?
How can such one-sided contract be ever made in the first place? Isn't there any check and balance control in the Govt?
Register as a voter before they closes the registration.
Posted by: merdeka
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December 16, 2006 08:59 AM
The reason why we are in this situation is that the toll operators have taken us all for a ride abetted by our government. It starts with a company proposing to the government a "new highway". They will give projections of traffic flow and cost of construction, which are both heavily inflated. The government will then guarantee that should the traffic flow be anything less, then the toll operators will be compensated. At that time all officials would have been on study tours to look at highways in many countries,and are on a first name basis with officials of the company. They are thoroughly convinced that the traffic figures are very conservative and there's no way that the government will be called upon to make good the difference.
Then comes the construction. The contract will be given to their own subsidiary company and the cost will be inflated, thus making lots of profit for their construction arm. So, even before the road is opened, profits are already reaped by the company!
Of course these companies do a lot of social work, like making huge donations, especially near the general elections.
LJ
Posted by: longjafaar
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December 16, 2006 10:50 AM
The days of the Badawi Govt is numbered. Since then elected, he had nothing to show except price increases all over and everywhere.
Posted by: BeeSee
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December 16, 2006 10:47 PM
The days of the Badawi Govt is numbered. Since then elected, he had nothing to show except price increases all over and everywhere.
Posted by: BeeSee
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December 16, 2006 10:49 PM
There will be a Toll Hike protest on Sunday (17th Dec 2006)
Short is our memory, but long is the pain. Samy Vellu boasted (STAR, Dec 15, 06) - “The Government has kept to its promise of stopping toll collections at sites where the concession agreements have ended” This is a BIG LIE. He suffered severe memory lapse or his Ministry officials are “sleeping” on their records and cannot provide him with accurate information after 7 years.
Way back in 1999, when DAP formed the CAT (Coalation Againt Toll) , its media statement (dated 3/2/1999) stated clearly:
“one of the GREATEST injustices of the highway privatisation programme - the continued collection of the 50-sen toll at the Jalan Kuching toll plaza by Kamunting Corporation Bhd for more than THREE years although its nine-year concession had expired on January 8, 1996”
There are SO many tolled highways, which NGO or Consumer Association is monitoring the situation? Perhaps a NEW NGO on Tolled Expressways is sorely needed. Any volunteers?
For more details of Protest & inter alia FAQs on Tolled Roads etc check it at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/12/toll-hike-protest-10am-sunday-17-dec_16.html
Posted by: mwt
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December 17, 2006 04:39 AM
Semua janji kosong saja bila minta naik harga tol, air, letrik. Cakap untuk kebaikan rakyat tetapi hakikatnya, baik poket dia saja.
Kita menderita! Kenapa masih akur kepada semua kenaikan harga ni? Kenapa! Apa yang boleh kita buat? Whining about it helps??!
Posted by: canary
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December 17, 2006 02:34 PM
Toll hikes = Highway robberies to continue.
Shameless Plug:
http://artify.blogspot.com/2006/12/highway-tolls-to-increase-aka-highway.html
Posted by: notolls
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December 17, 2006 04:34 PM
For MORE PICTURES & REPORTS Of TOLL Hike PROTEST at Bandar Mahkota Cheras - 800 ANGRY Resident Backed by 4 MPS, 2 Assemblymen With Reps from PAS & Keadilan; BN Component parties MEMBERS “Too SHAMEFUL” to Attend; check updates at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/12/toll-hike-protest-10am-sunday-17-dec_16.html
Posted by: mwt
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December 18, 2006 02:18 AM
Something just x my mind...
If the Govt has been so eager to extend the pre-paid registration to 30th Dec '06 (from 15th Dec '06) and has been postponing the actions to be taken to the PATI (illegal), why is the Govt so "efficient" when it comes to toll increase?????
And can someone enlightened me...did any of the Ministers pay toll??? Out of their own pocket????
Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...
Posted by: nightcaller
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December 18, 2006 07:20 AM
Thousands expected at anti-toll hike demo
Bede Hong
Dec 19, 06 12:28pm Adjust font size:
Opposition parties and consumer groups are planning a mammoth
protest against the increase in toll hikes for five major highways
in the Klang Valley.
It is learnt that thousands are expected to turn up at the protest
which will be held along the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP)
highway on Jan 7.
PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub said the Islamic opposition party
alone will bring between 5,000 and 10,000 protestors.
"We are sad that the government is not considerate towards the
people, especially those with low incomes," he said when met after a
closed-door discussion in Kuala Lumpur last night.
The hour-long discussion at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese
Assembly Hall was attended by DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Parti
Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S Arutchelvan, PAS treasurer
Hatta Ramli, Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua and
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahrir Syed
Mohammad.
A `Protes Kenaikan Tol' committee has been set up and will be helmed
by Syed Shahrir.
Last week, the government announced that the toll rates for the five
highways will rise between 20 to 60 percent effective Jan 1. LDP
will see its toll rise from RM1 to RM1.60.
Tian said the Jan 7 protest will not only see the participation of
party members. "Local residents who are unhappy with the toll hike
will also participate, " he added when met at the same venue.
Syed Shahrir said the committee has yet to decide on the exact
location to hold the protest.
"It would likely be somewhere where there are parking spaces for the
protestors. We would not be blocking traffic. However, we would be
visible to road users.
"It's a big mobilisation. I don't think it would be solely because
of the toll hikes. The public is very angry at a combination of
things that happened this year, including the fuel hikes," he added.
Buy back highways
The committee will also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister's
Department on Dec 27 denouncing the toll hikes.
The memorandum will call on the government to make public the
clauses in the concessionaire agreements and to buy back the
concessions.
Works Minister S Samy Vellu disclosed that it cost RM4.13 billion to
construct the five highways: LDP, Shah Alam Highway, Cheras-Kajang
Highway, Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and the Guthrie Corridor
Expressway.
The minister also revealed that a RM2.589 billion compensation
package for the five concessionaires was to be incurred from Jan 1,
2007 when the new toll rates take effect to the next review in toll
rates, which is between 2010 and 2012.
Samy Vellu also said the government had to compensate a total of
RM2.275 billion to the operators of four of the five highways, not
including Guthrie Corridor, which is a new highway.
However, while he gave a breakdown of this figure, he did not
specify over what period of time this amount was paid.
But going by this, the government could be paying as much as RM4.9
billion in compensation alone for the highways.
Opposition party DAP has urged the government to buy up the five
highways by paying the concessionaires RM4.13 billion for the total
construction cost.
In a related development, DAP will proceed with the Dec 31 protest
at the Grand Saga toll plaza along the Cheras highway. The protest
is jointly organised by the Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Road
Action Committee (BMC-OARAC).
On Sunday, a protest organised by DAP and BMC-OARAC saw some 800
people taking to the streets in Cheras to vent their frustration
against the toll hike.
Posted by: hawaiichee
|
December 21, 2006 09:33 AM
So, toll people not making money, rakyat must bear the burden ?
Oi, toll people. If this is the way you do business, you might as well really go stay on top of the tree. Where got like this one ?? You lose money, you bear the losses laaa. Do you see any private companies begging gomen for help when they loss money ?
This is like a son whose candy is being stolen , and crying like shit asking daddy to help.
Anybody remember about the time when the Penang ferry asked the government for a rise in their fees just because they are losing money ?? What a joke !!!!
Oi, listen up, losers !!! Yea, you...toll people, gormen, ferry operator .....we the rakyat is not stupid !! Is this the way you do business ?? Shame on you people who claimed to be businessman, professionals etc. Oh yes, professional conman ( you know who laa, with the fake hair and still hanging on to his position without any shame at all ), professional whiners and professional fakers !! Thats what you people are !! Yes, you !! The toll people and those involved in such scam !!!!
It is you people who shamed Malaysia !! Anak Malaysia konon !!!! Pordah !!!!
Posted by: Duke of Wellington
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January 9, 2007 04:29 PM
What kind of business dealing is this !!?? I mean, shit, gormen will compensate if toll did not meet projected whatever ?!! Shit, ...oi, government....you made the dealing, you bear the burden laaa, you shits !!!
Toll boss : Sir, my toll no making money. I need to buy 10000k diamond and 10 BMW for her and family. I also need to go holiday in USA and Europe cos I promised my anak manja alredi. I need the holiday cos I stress of eating good food, play gold, social social, get datukship everyday, and accepting bribes.
Gormen : Aiyoo yoo, so pitiful aaa. Must tell rakyat that you are stress and ask them to pay for your demand. Must tell rakyat to pity you.
Next day...
Gormen : Must increase toll cos toll boss need to go holiday in USA. You all must pity him and gormen as well. You all know, I long time never caviar laaa...last time i eat is yesterday. So, you see...you all must pay to show that you all love Malaysia
Posted by: Duke of Wellington
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January 9, 2007 04:39 PM