SHAH ALAM, 15 Dec: The increase in toll rates, which is expected to begin next year, is yet another fulfilled promise by Barisan Nasional (BN) to ‘screw’ the people, said the PKR Consumer Bureau Chairman, Yahya Shari.
He said that this matter is expected and always happens after Barisan Nasional wins the general election.
He said that it has become a necessity for the BN government administration to burden and agonise the people because of their failure to administer the country properly.
He said that the current toll rates are enough to burden the people and now, continuously, the government is oppressing the people with the new increase in toll rates.
“As usual, another BN promise to ‘screw’ the people is fulfilled, while the current toll rate is enough to burden the people.
“This should not happen. The government, under the leadership of BN, should not continuously oppress the people,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini.
Yahya also urged the Federal Government to review the agreement to allow concessionaires to increase the toll rate after the agreement between the government and highway concessionaires is revised.
“Let not an agreement cause the people to continue to suffer with various increases in price of goods and services.
“We should also ask the government to review the one-sided agreement because it is becoming more and more rapacious and does take into account the people’s burden, which is ever increasing,” he said.
Rumours that the toll rate will increase spread widely when consumers will be imposed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 16 months and other increases include electricity charges, public transportation and sugar.
“Why are increases so high when the situation of our community is burdened with terrible price increase for goods?
“And I just met with six areas in Selangor. I met with leaders and the community, which is oppressed. They are the target group and the increase in petrol prices and so on will make the situation worse,” he told Antarapos.
He said this when asked to comment on allegations that several toll concessionaires in Malaysia will be increasing the toll rates in 2014.