400 protest 'high' toll charge on Lanang Bridge
Kow Gah ChiePublished: May 1, 2013 4:02 PM | Updated: May 1, 2013 4:08 PM
SARAWAK Some 400 DAP supporters and members of the public have protested in Sibu against the ‘prohibitive’ toll charge to use the 1.2km Lanang Bridge over the Rejang river.
SARAWAK
Many families have moved to Sibu town since the bridge was opened in 2006 because they could not afford the toll charge.
SARAWAK Some 400 DAP supporters and members of the public have protested in Sibu against the ‘prohibitive’ toll charge to use the 1.2km Lanang Bridge over the Rejang river.
T
he protestors, who gathered near the toll booth today, called for Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and senior state minister Wong Soon Koh to step down, and the BN-led state government to be changed.
Even as they demanded that the RM3 toll charge be abolished, another group watched quietly on the sidelines - many have had to relocate from the suburbs because they could not afford to pay the toll charge daily.
"We used to spend RM32 per day. I had to use the bridge to get to work. My wife had to send our children to school and for tuition," said an individual who only gave his name as Kong.
"Barely a year after the bridge was opened (in April 2006), we were forced to move (from Teluk Assan) to Sibu town.”
Kong said some 80 percent of those who lived on the outskirts of Sibu have had to move to the town, where the schools, supermarket, tuition centre and job opportunities lie.
A clearly angry Wong Tai Tuang (left), 78, claimed that his one-acre lot of land was acquired for the bridge project and that he was paid RM1,000 in compensation.
Wong, a member of the Sarawak United People's Party, said he and his family have had to move away because he could not afford to pay RM18 each day in toll charge.
Others, however, have had no choice but to remain where they are, as they cannot afford to buy houses in town.
Tang (left), a 26-year-old mechanic, said he has to pay 50 sen to cross the bridge on his motorcycle, to get to his workplace in town.
“I also choose to go home for lunch, as it is expensive to eat out," he said.
The Lanang Bridge was built by Woodville Development Sdn Bhd, which holds a 30-year concession.
A resident, Yap Hoi Liong, said the state government should revoke the concession.
Although an alternate route via the Durin Bridge may be used free of charge, it is not a popular choice with motorists because of the distance.
T
he protestors, who gathered near the toll booth today, called for Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and senior state minister Wong Soon Koh to step down, and the BN-led state government to be changed.Even as they demanded that the RM3 toll charge be abolished, another group watched quietly on the sidelines - many have had to relocate from the suburbs because they could not afford to pay the toll charge daily.
"We used to spend RM32 per day. I had to use the bridge to get to work. My wife had to send our children to school and for tuition," said an individual who only gave his name as Kong.
"Barely a year after the bridge was opened (in April 2006), we were forced to move (from Teluk Assan) to Sibu town.”
Kong said some 80 percent of those who lived on the outskirts of Sibu have had to move to the town, where the schools, supermarket, tuition centre and job opportunities lie.A clearly angry Wong Tai Tuang (left), 78, claimed that his one-acre lot of land was acquired for the bridge project and that he was paid RM1,000 in compensation.
Wong, a member of the Sarawak United People's Party, said he and his family have had to move away because he could not afford to pay RM18 each day in toll charge.
Others, however, have had no choice but to remain where they are, as they cannot afford to buy houses in town.
Tang (left), a 26-year-old mechanic, said he has to pay 50 sen to cross the bridge on his motorcycle, to get to his workplace in town.“I also choose to go home for lunch, as it is expensive to eat out," he said.
The Lanang Bridge was built by Woodville Development Sdn Bhd, which holds a 30-year concession.
A resident, Yap Hoi Liong, said the state government should revoke the concession.
Although an alternate route via the Durin Bridge may be used free of charge, it is not a popular choice with motorists because of the distance.
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