Talking to a sales representative and he was happy that there would be no Plus toll increase for 5 years.
For those who use the NS Highway frequently, it is indeed good news. But for those of us who do not use it often, but are taxpayers, it is actually not such good deal.
For the deferred increase in toll, government has to foot compensation about 5 billions , whcih is from tax payers’ money. For those earning less than 2000 a month, they probably do not have to pay income tax. But for those who have to pay income taxes, like many of us out there, we are actually subsidising the frequent users of the Plus highway. Instead of users paying for usage, it is now those paying tax who foot it.
But wait a minute.. Even among those who do not need to pay income tax, many forget that they are tax payers too. They do pay road taxes and indirect taxes such as sales tax, service tax and excise tax, import taxes etc etc..Anyone who will in some way contribute to government coffers is actually tax payer.
Although there was a piece of news (read here) saying that the government may not need to pay compensation(and I hope this is true), since PLUS is to be taken over soon, I will only believe it if Plus announces it officially that it would not seek compensation for the freeze on toll hike.
In the first place, there should not be such agreements for toll review every 3 years. Then secondly, remedial actions such as buying over PLUS should have been done long long ago.
But as i say, many road users like the salesman mentioned above ( who see things oly superficially) would be happy , and they are actually a big group of voters out there. No wonder this is labelled as an election budget!
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Oct 29, 2010 @ 15:44:06
PLUS is just small part of the problem, the bigger one are other toll concessionaires within Klang Valley. Just imagine the kind of money u need to pay for using these ‘highways” in 10-20 years time with the normal hike in toll rate in every 3 years interval. We will be killed by the high cost of living before we achieve high income status.
Again my question is : what has Gerakan done all this while to safeguard rakyats welfare in respect to these toll issues? Can we still regard Gerakan as a political party with conscience ? Its just a fantasy created by the elites to con lay men.
LikeLike
Oct 29, 2010 @ 17:00:23
Sorry to say but Malaysians certainly deserve the leaders they elect !
LikeLike
Oct 29, 2010 @ 19:01:12
Why are we paying road taxes, driving licenses and paying duty on new car purchases?
What the government does with those monies? Where it went? the billions?
Shall we privatize the government as well?
LikeLike
Oct 30, 2010 @ 00:01:19
dr hsu
what can gerakan do?
LikeLike
Oct 30, 2010 @ 09:04:57
Atila
I have more or less given up hope on the leadership to bring real reform . It is just hoping to ride on Big Brother’s coat tail to carry it through the next GE. With the main power now in mainly appointed Central working committee and not the Central COmmittee, no realistic change can be effected no matter how much those reform minded CCs speak in CC meetings.. I can see the drawing on the wall clearly, and that is, it is not going to do well in next GE, even if Big Brother retains its majority to rule.. I have mentioned after 308 in an internal open letter that while the Big Brother’s ship may survive the next tsunami, G boat is unlikely to do so…. Things became even more bleak after K became a minister. There is discontent in every state, but still, looking at Penang, not sufficient to change the course of the boat.
It may not be a bad thing if Big Brother loses Sabah By election. It will help to exert more pressure on the leadership.
LikeLike
Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:01:33
Dr. Hsu,
I believe if there’s a takeover, new deal may come out and i believe that the whole idea of this takeover.
About ur comment about gerakan, i believe the whole argument being, if we were to pull out of BN, can we survive? BN supporters will not vote for us and so do PR supporters. Can we really believe voters who i suppose PR supporters will votes for us if we were to be a third force? Now SAPP has taken this step and result of Batu Sapi by election will tell us whether SAPP or us will survive as third force. Let’s us see.
I would agree with u that we are riding on PM tail and so are all the other component parties. If i will to ride on PM Najib i don’t mind for he is also a reformer, If PM Abdllah, I may have second thought. This is how i feel ab the whole thing.
LikeLike
Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:04:43
As for Gerakan as a party, we definately need to reform and redefined our struggle and goal and be more vocal and let’s the public know our stand. Somehow we must let’s our press statement known to the public.
LikeLike
Oct 30, 2010 @ 16:35:00
The former premier got a lot to answer when PR takes over the federal government.
It was during his reign that most of the lopsided “priatisation projects ” were implemented.
And he gave an idiotic and lame excuse for these lopsided agreements by saying the concessionaires had better lawyers than the government.
LikeLike
Nov 01, 2010 @ 15:53:00
Yes, what the government do with all the tax money on? Do you know I told my family not to buy expensive car… reason is the tax on those luxury cars goes to somewhere else and yet lots and lots of racist remark are thrown to us , labelling us “Taiko” la, “Greedy and selfish bizman ” la, “bloodsucking pendatang ” la…..really no appreciation for those contributors. If the rich stop spending, majority of people will feel the pain. But these people still throwing the stones of jealousy and hatred . So now, we don’t have to pay toll, I think the money will come somewhere else. GST tax?
LikeLike
Nov 01, 2010 @ 17:18:18
Procrastination is slower but more painful form of self destruction. I personally experienced and regretted it. Mistook nothingness as an enlightened form of emptiness. Gerakan is sinking in the pit of moral hazard.
LikeLike
Nov 01, 2010 @ 23:44:17
CYC, there is a consolation. Gerakan is not alone….it has a partner going down too, (quote) “sinking in the pit of moral hazard”.
LikeLike