Toll: Stop acting like a hero, Noh tells Azmin

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali has been asked to quit acting like a hero in trying to fight for the rakyat by issuing a statement that the state government rejects the toll hike.

Selangor UMNO liaison chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar said it was common knowledge that the two state subsidiaries, Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) and Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KPS) each has a 30 per cent minority stake in the Kesas Highway concession company and 20 per cent in the Sprint concession company.

"I urge the Selangor Government to immediately announce the profits which they have earned and expected to gain from their shares in the Kesas and Sprint concessionaires. The state government should return all those profits to the people of Selangor if they really want to help the people," he said in a statement on Friday.

On Thursday, Mohamed Azmin reportedly said the Selangor government has rejected the hike in toll rates along 18 highways throughout the country, 12 of which are in the Klang Valley, in view of the rising cost of living.

Noh in the meantime requested the Federal Government to review UMNO Selangor's previous proposal to abolish tolls at Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau, both located on the Federal Highway.

This, according to him was because, these two toll plazas had existed for a long time and had made their profits.

"If the two toll plazas cannot be abolished, then I suggest close down one to help ease the people's burden," he said.

He also suggested that the Federal Government imposed tolls through two methods, namely toll costs be maintained during peak hours and reduced during off-peak hours.

In this way, he said commuters not involved in activities during peak hours could choose to use the highway after peak hours at a lower price.

"The government can also reduce the toll rates on public holidays. This will encourage people outside the Klang Valley to use the highways and help boost tourism activities in the Klang Valley," he said.

Earlier, several main highway concessionaires in the Klang Valley had announced hikes in toll rates of between 10 sen and RM6 effective Friday.

They involved the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK), Maju Expressway (MEX), Kajang-SILK Highway, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART), KL-Kuala Selangor Highway (LATAR), Sungai Besi Expressway (BESRAYA), New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Kajang Seremban Expressway (LEKAS), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), SPRINT and Cheras-Kajang Highway (GRAND SAGA).