Works Minister S Samy Vellu has suggested to the cabinet that new bidders for future toll concessionaire to be considered based on their plans on toll hike.

He said a company which offer to raise toll rates every five years will be given priority over those proposing to raise toll every three years.

The works minister explained that if these companies were to operate for a total of 30 years, the accumulated toll hikes would amount to a sizeable sum.

"This is what I've suggested to the cabinet - not just experienced and existing concessionaires, but others as well," Samy Vellu said when met at Parliament lobby today.

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat's question-and-answer session, Samy said that his ministry would work with the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to decide on the toll charges.

Why Causeway not widen?

In response to a question from Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong), he also said he had suggested to the cabinet that his ministry be consulted in determining the toll rate for privatised road-works.

"I have proposed to cabinet that the Public Works Department as a technical agency should have the chance to assess the costs and then EPU can decide the real quantum of toll charges," he said.

In explaining his proposal, Samy Vellu said that toll rates were decided by the EPU but his ministry was often criticised despite it having no say in making those decisions.

Meanwhile, to another question from Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), the minister said the government did not plan to widen the Johor Causeway despite the prevalent problem of traffic congestion.

Kok asked the reason for not widening the Causeway when "the government had wanted to build a scenic bridge that has since been scrapped".

The minister explained that the traffic congestion in the area was due to the backlog at the custom, immigration and quarantine complex, and not because of the 'narrowness' at the Causeway.