Will Someone Inform Datuk Seri Samy Vellu That He Is Donating RM2.58 Billion Of OUR Money.

Do read this report and then you won't wonder why our government complains all the time of not having enough money. If this is representative of the way government enriches cronies and other hangers-on, it is really our great luck that we have not been declared a bankrupt nation yet.

Despite the Government agreeing to increase toll charges at five highways from Jan 1 next year, it still has to fork out a hefty RM2.58 billion in compensation.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the Government had to pay the compensation to the five highway concessionaires because the rates were not in accordance with the concession agreement signed by both parties.

Samy Vellu today announced toll hikes in five highways -- Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong, Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuh Raya Cheras-Kajang, Lebuhraya KL-Karak and Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie.

"Even with the increase, we have to pay so much in compensation. We have to compensate the reduction in the toll rates we are collecting from the public... the Government has to pay the balance.

"For LDP, for instance, the Government pays 50 sen for every car using the highway because according to the concession the new toll rate is supposed to be RM2.10 and not RM1.60 as we have announced," he said.

Samy Vellu said going by the concession agreements the new toll rates for the five highways would be considerably higher than the rate fixed by the Government.

He said the percentage toll increase for the LDP was 60 per cent, Lebuhraya Shah Alam (47 per cent), Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang (43 per cent) (Batu 9) and 50 per cent (Batu 11), Leburaya KL-Karak (25 per cent) (Gombak) and 20 per cent (Bentong) and Lebuhraya Guthrie (40 per cent).

Samy Vellu said the next toll hike would be in 2008 involving seven highways. They are Ampang-KL Elevated Highway, the North South Highway, Kulim-Butterworth Highway, Second Link, Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, North Klang Straits Highway and Penang Bridge.

"Although we allow for toll hikes, we make sure the increase is not too high. We also pressure concessionaires to improve and upgrade facilities as localities developed and these costs are borne by toll operators.

"At the LDP, we ask the concessionaire to build four new interchanges and an overhead bridge. They have built the facilities, so we can't complain much. They are doing their job," he said.

After that sob story above, Samy Vellu came out with the usual comparison bullshit: He said toll rates in Malaysia were one of the lowest in the region, with 13.60 sen per km. The toll rate in the Philippines was 35.5 sen per km, Thailand 22.76 sen, China 27.62 sen and Indonesia 14.08 sen.
Picture Source