Tuesday November 10, 2009
RM231bil to buy back 26 toll highways
THE Government will have to spend an exorbitant RM231bil if it buys back 26 toll highways in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
In defending the Government’s decision to focus on improving the public transport system and infrastructure in rural areas, he said that only 35% of vehicle owners used the highways.
“Do you want the Government to spend RM231bil to buy back toll highways in urban areas for the 35% of vehicle owners ?’’ he said in reply to Tony Pua (DAP – Petaling Jaya Utara) and Chua Tee Yong (BN – Labis).
When Pua said that according to his calculation the North South Expressway and the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong cost only RM15bil and RM1.5bil, Nor, who is in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, said the figure also included future incurring costs.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been invited by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet up with southern Thai leaders in December.
Replying to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent - Pasir Mas) on the situation in southern Thailand, he said Malaysia appreciated Abhisit’s action.
Earlier, Anifah told Datuk Idris Haron (BN - Tangga Batu) that Malaysia was aware of petty issues straining its good ties with Indonesia and the “third party” involved.
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