A paradox for Msian drivers
Published: Jan 25, 2005 1:11 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
"It can only happen in Malaysia...one is penalised with a speeding ticket by the police for travelling too fast, and by Plus for travelling too slow..."
"It can only happen in Malaysia...one is penalised with a speeding ticket by the police for travelling too fast, and by Plus for travelling too slow..."
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng mused over this paradox in a statement responding to recent moves by concessionaire Plus Expressways Bhd (Plus) to fine motorists who take longer than usual to exit the North-South highway.
According to Plus data released today, some 0.32 percent of highway users are "stragglers who abuse the transit ticket and Touch 'N Go systems to get away from paying full toll amounts".
Plus had been imposing a RM10 fine from last week, which attracted instant protests from motorists and has since led to the government directing the company to suspend its action.
Lim contended there is a need to do more and urged the government to remove some of the principal benefits accorded to the company "because they are focusing more on profit than the public interest".
He said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (photo) withdraw the company's tax exemption status and waiver of interest payment for the RM1.65 billion government loan.
"The government has exempted Plus on all tax payments for five years beginning from 2002, traffic volume guarantees and loan guarantees for commercial loans (it has) taken," Lim said.
"Why should Plus seek more profits from such fines...when the 10% toll increase effective Jan 1 (will result) in an additional RM154 million in profits this year?"
Plus is expected to rake in a whopping RM937 million in revenue this year, he said, compared to RM760 million last year.
Lim said Plus should be made to pay its corporate taxes, as the 28 percent due on earnings would alleviate the financial burden on motorists, who have been left to pay the increased toll charges.
This has gone up from 12.36 sen to 13.6 sen per kilometre on the North-South Expressway, but "the country will not get a single cent or benefit from (the profits made by Plus)".
He added that the premier has disappointed Malaysians by ignoring their protests and refusing to intervene in stopping the toll rate.
Lim claimed that the government's 'zero inflation' campaign has lost credibility and that it has shown the lack of moral authority because it approved the toll hike.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng mused over this paradox in a statement responding to recent moves by concessionaire Plus Expressways Bhd (Plus) to fine motorists who take longer than usual to exit the North-South highway.
According to Plus data released today, some 0.32 percent of highway users are "stragglers who abuse the transit ticket and Touch 'N Go systems to get away from paying full toll amounts".
Plus had been imposing a RM10 fine from last week, which attracted instant protests from motorists and has since led to the government directing the company to suspend its action.
Lim contended there is a need to do more and urged the government to remove some of the principal benefits accorded to the company "because they are focusing more on profit than the public interest". He said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (photo) withdraw the company's tax exemption status and waiver of interest payment for the RM1.65 billion government loan. "The government has exempted Plus on all tax payments for five years beginning from 2002, traffic volume guarantees and loan guarantees for commercial loans (it has) taken," Lim said.
"Why should Plus seek more profits from such fines...when the 10% toll increase effective Jan 1 (will result) in an additional RM154 million in profits this year?"
Plus is expected to rake in a whopping RM937 million in revenue this year, he said, compared to RM760 million last year. Lim said Plus should be made to pay its corporate taxes, as the 28 percent due on earnings would alleviate the financial burden on motorists, who have been left to pay the increased toll charges.
This has gone up from 12.36 sen to 13.6 sen per kilometre on the North-South Expressway, but "the country will not get a single cent or benefit from (the profits made by Plus)".
He added that the premier has disappointed Malaysians by ignoring their protests and refusing to intervene in stopping the toll rate.
Lim claimed that the government's 'zero inflation' campaign has lost credibility and that it has shown the lack of moral authority because it approved the toll hike.
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