PUTRAJAYA should take over the toll concessions of four highways in the Klang Valley instead of giving them up to Amanah Lebuhraya Rakyat Bhd (ALR), said Khalid Abdul Samad.

The former Federal Territories minister in a statement said this will reduce the likelihood of abuse and cronyism.

If ALR receives the toll concessions, no safeguard will be in place should the firm award “fat and profitable deals to crony companies” in exchange for work done, he added.

Works Minister Fadillah Yusof earlier this week announced that a new non-profit company will take over the toll concessions of four highways in the Klang Valley, as part of a restructuring programme so no toll hike will be implemented till the end of the concession period.

ALR offered to buy all four highway companies, he added.

“The phrase ‘non-profit’ can be misleading as overheads and operating costs can be exaggerated and increased, resulting in a net-zero profit,” said Khalid.

“What is to prevent ALR from awarding fat and profitable deals to its crony companies for jobs undertaken?”

He said it is better for the government to take over the toll concessions while they are still being collected to ensure the highways are well-maintained and no “surprises” occur at the end of the concession period.

Running and maintaining the highways will also give the government insight into their upkeep requirements, he added.

Putrajaya earlier this week said toll rates will not be increased for Kesas Sdn Bhd (Kesas Expressway), Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Damansara-Puchong Expressway), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat Sdn Bhd (Sprint Expressway) and Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir dan Terowong Sdn Bhd (Smart Tunnel).

The government said this due to a restructuring of the toll concessions for these highways.

As a result, existing toll rates will remain until the end of their respective concession period, it added.

Khalid also took a jab at Gamuda Deputy Managing Director Mohammed Rashdan Mohd Yusof, who said the current restructuring is better for the government as it relieves the latter of many responsibilities.

“The whole purpose of the exercise, or so I thought, is not how it will relieve the government of this and that duty or responsibility, but how it will reduce the burden on the people.

“In that aspect, Rashdan has no answer. The only benefit would be the possibility of a shorter concession period and only if people use the four highways and happily pay the current toll rates at a level of traffic higher than originally accounted for.”

Khalid said Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) previous proposal is better.

In 2019, the PH government planned to take over the four highways for RM6.2 billion, making them toll-free for 16 hours a day and giving a 30% discount for the remaining hours. – April 7, 2022.