No Government decision on toll compensation yet

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is still discussing compensation for highway concessionaires after ending toll collection, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

She said the Government had abolished some tolls over the years.

“However the compensation is a policy matter and it is still being discussed.

“It will be announced by the Finance Ministry as this is still under review," she said in reply to a supplementary question by Teo Ni Ching (DAP-Kulai) at the Dewan Rakyat.

Teo had asked how much compensation toll concessionaires had been given.

Earlier, Rosnah said that as of Dec 31 last year, there were 31 highways with toll collection in the country.

She said the construction cost for each highway was between RM45mil and RM5.9bil.

“But the annual operations and maintenance cost for each highway in 2016 was between RM6.82mil and RM1.5bil ," said Rosnah.

She said the toll collection for the various highways in 2016 was between RM27mil and RM2.867bil.

Separately Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said more members of the armed forces are set to benefit when Perbadanan Perwira Niaga Malaysia (Pernama) opened five more retail outlets.

He said these outlets were set up to help members and veterans cope with the rising cost of living.

Pernama already sells 137 essential goods like rice, sugar and flour up to 45% cheaper than the market rate, and 376 other products for up to 35% cheaper.

“It also offers school uniforms with a discount of 45%, on top of a buy-one-free-one concept, he said in reply to a question by Datuk Raime Unggi (BN-Tenom).

The five new outlets will raise the total to 87 nationwide.