Future agreements will be made public, says ministry

STAR, 6 January 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: All future toll concession agreements signed between the Government and highway operators will be made public.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said this as the Govern­ment decided to declassify 22 out of the 23 toll concession agreements beginning last Friday.

However, as at 4pm on the second day of public viewing yesterday, only 17 toll agreements were available at the Works Ministry’s library.

The agreements were for the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Guthrie, Sprint, Besraya, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, SMART Tunnel, NNKSB, Metramac, Kesas, Grand Saga, Lebuhraya Pintas Selat Klang Baru, NPE, MTD, Penang Bridge, SILK, BORR and Shapadu.

Only Maju Expressway, which operates the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya highway, has not given its consent for its toll agreement to be declassified.

Zin said PLUS, the New Klang Valley Expressway and other toll agreements would be made available to the public from noon yesterday.

“If it’s not (ready) in time for today, the public can view it tomorrow,” he assured.

Asked if any future toll agreement would be made public, Zin said the Government had taken the first step in declassifying the documents.

“That is the way in future,” he said.

Asked about suggestions that the expressways should be nationalised, Zin said the Government “was not looking at the option at the moment”.

On certain highway operators already making profits due to high traffic volume, Zin said it was time such companies looked into “giving something back in return.”

“That’s why we are seeking an understanding on this concession agreement so that the ones who have really shown good returns on their investments reflect their corporate responsibility and give discounts and rebates like what PLUS has done.

“This is the moment for any concessionaire that feels it can give back to the stakeholders, to look into it,” he pointed out.