SHAH ALAM, 24 Dec: It has been proposed to the Selangor Government to implement a ‘free toll for a day’ programme for the LDP, Kesas and Sprint Expressways to help the people who are suffering with the policies to increase the price of goods by the BN Government.
The Assemblyman for Kinrara, Ng Sze Han, said that the Selangor Government should use its holding in highway shares to reject the increase of toll rates as announced by Barisan Nasional.
He said that the State Government should also use its revenue in shares held in highway concessionaires to give free toll for a day during the weekend to benefit the people of Selangor.
“In fact, it is a first move and the enjoyment will be developed through the Selangor budget next year, said Sze Han in his media statement.
He said that based on the annual report for Litrak Berhad and Konsortium Expressway Shah Alam Selangor Sdn Bhd (Kesas), the usage of the expressways concerned has increased over 5 percent as predicted.
“On the whole, expressways have profited in these few years. For example, Litrak Bhd which manages the LDP and Sprint expressways have profited RM180 million in 2013,” he said.
Sze Han said that the Selangor Government has 30 percent of shares in Kesas through PKNS, and 20 percent of shares in Litrak Bhd through Kumpulan Perangsang Bhd.
Based on the projections for 2013, Litrak Bhd is expected to be able to contribute RM27 million from its revenue to the Selangor Government each year.
Therefore, rough calculations find that 35,000 users will be able to enjoy the welfare programme by the Selangor Government.
He said that the Selangor Government’s decision to sell the 30 percent of Kesas shares owned by PKNS to Gamuda Berhad needs to be reconsidered to prevent the increase in toll rates in future.
“If the State Government wants to go ahead with the sale, the profit of RM36 million received through the sale should be translated to the ‘free toll for a day’ programme for users of the Kesas expressway on weekends.”
“The giving of free toll on the weekend would prove efforts of the Pakatan Rakyat Government in realising the election manifesto,” he said.
