SHAH ALAM, 17 Dec: PKR slammed the arrogant statement by the Umno-BN Government which does not think about the welfare of the people in the issue of increased toll rates.
The Deputy President of PKR, Azmin Ali, said that the statement by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, asking the public to use non-tolled routes if the high increase in toll rates are not appropriate and this shows clear lack of accountability.
“We would like to remind the unelected Federal Minister to stop patronising the people and not to be arrogant when making statements,” said Azmin in a press statement today.
Azmin said that raising the highway toll is a serious matter which affects road users who in many cases have no choice but to use them.
“It is a matter of necessity and just because these are concessions it does not mean that prices can be increased without considering the needs and financial strain on the people,” he said.
He also urged Putrajaya to not hide behind the concession agreements and challenge the people with this take-it-or-leave-it scenario.
“This proposed hike together with the other planned price hikes poses a major threat to the welfare of the people,” he said.
Azmin said that PKR will oppose these price increases and in the absence of any convincing proof that they are justified and that they will continue to support efforts and measures to fight these oppressive price hikes.
“There is no use in the government harping on how well our stock market is doing or how impressive are our growth rates when the reality is that the man in the street continues to suffer to meet the rising the cost of living,” he added.
Prior to this, the PKR Strategy Director, Rafizi Ramli, said that the Federal Government has the full authority and influence to decide to not increase the toll rates as highway concessionaires are subsidiary companies of the government.
