PETALING JAYA, 18 Dec: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will prevent the toll hike for several highways in Selangor through the shares held by the State Government, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This is because the Selangor Government owns 30 percent of KESAS shares through its subsidiary company, Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), while 20 percent of SPRINT and the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) shares are owned by Kumpulan Perangsang.
He has discussed with the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who agrees to bring up this issue at the Executive Council meeting and a directive will be made to representatives of the State Government in the highway concessionaires to object to the increase.
“I have spoken with the Chief Minister and the State Government has agreed to use its share holdings in the highway (concessionaires) to object to the toll increase announced by BN,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said this at a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Anwar said that Abdul Khalid agreed that the State Government will impose more stringent conditions to proposal for the new highway constructions, the DASH, KIDEX, SUKE and KLORR.
He said that among the conditions imposed is that construction approval will only be granted if the profit requirement to use a fairer formula for the people is adhered to by the Federal Government and concessionaires.
He said that the landholding and land administration will only be allowed of the conditions pertaining to the toll rates is fair to the people and the accountability of concessionaires to the people of Selangor is observed.
“This is some of the actions that the Selangor Government can take to prevent toll hikes.
“Actually, the power held by the Federal Government is far greater and can definitely stop the toll hike if there is will and sincerity,” he said.
Commenting on the minister’s claims that the toll hike was inevitable, Anwar said that the Federal Government has a larger stake in the highway concessionaires, which can be used to protect the interests of the people.
“The State Government has the power to ensure planning permissions, land acquisitions and so on are subject to certain conditions set before a highway is built,” he said.
Anwar said that this is because it is embodied in the agreement signed.
“I also reject the excuses given by BN, that the government has no power to prevent the toll hike,” he said.
