THE abolition of tolls in Selangor, Johor, and Kedah demonstrates Barisan Nasional’s keen interest in the three states, Pakatan Harapan leaders said today. 

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said it was clear that the motive was to win the three states, especially Selangor, on the next general election.

“It cannot be clearer that Najib is specifically targeting Selangor as the key state to win back, while Kedah and Johor are the states to defend.

“However, what is more pertinent is, what are the real terms of the abolition? If the federal government is paying enormous compensation or is extending the terms of the toll concessions, then in reality, tax payers will ultimately pay the bill,” he said.

Prime Minister Najib Razak in the tabling of Budget 2018 yesterday announced the abolition of four tolls, effective January 1. Two were scrapped in Batu 3 and Sungai Rasau in Selangor, and one each in Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and the Eastern Dispersal Link in Johor.

Deputy Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani told the media that toll concessionaire PLUS would be compensated for the loss of revenue.

He said the compensation would not be in the form of cash and that the government was instead considering extending the concessionaire’s tenure.

“Basically we will restructure some of the existing tolls that we have not abolished. Maybe we will extend a little bit of their time to compensate for the tolls that we have abolished,” he said.

On the sums involved in the deals, Johari said Putrajaya was working it out.

The abolition of two tolls in Selangor would benefit 140,000 motorists, he said.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli agreed that tolls were scrapped in the states that Barisan Nasional wished to win.

He said it was not impossible for Putrajaya to hike up the tolls in the “safe” states or in Kuala Lumpur to make up for the removal of the four tolls.

“Maybe he (Najib) will introduce a much higher toll in Kuala Lumpur that no one can escape paying, like Duta, NKVE (New Klang Valley Expressway) or Shah Alam Highway (KESAS)

“He can abolish tolls in these critical areas (Selangor, Johor and Kedah) but increase the rates in Perak, for example, or other states that he feels are safe,” Rafizi told The Malaysian Insight.

The Pandan MP said the abolition of tolls also proved that such a move, as championed by the opposition, was possible.

He said that the abolition proved that Najib had to give in PH’s popular cause for fear of losing votes.

Amanah communication chairman Khalid Samad said the government was taking up the very proposal that it had ridiculed as coming from PH.

“It only proves that the only obstacle to abolishing toll comes from BN. If it wants to do it, it can be done. It vindicates PH, which was accused of being unrealistic (when it proposed abolishing toll).

“What I want to tell the people is that this is only the beginning. Let us complete the process by letting PH win (in the coming general election). All tolls will be abolished in stages,” said the Shah Alam MP.

Rafizi said the prime minister had made a U-turn by accepting what PH has been fighting for.

“He said PH made U-turns but in reality, he is the one doing it. He has to accept that the announcement he had made is in response to what PH been fighting for,” said Rafizi.

Selangor Menteri Besar Selangor Mohamed Azmin Ali yesterday said that the tolls abolition was to win over the people of Selangor.

He also said that some of the initiatives announced by Najib were already in place in Selangor. – October 28, 2017.