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Urgent motion that Works Ministry should not sign a third extension of PLUS’ North-South Expressway concession to 50 years without parliamentary consultation and consent


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang

(Parliament, Monday): I have given notice to the Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah to move a motion of urgent, definite public importance in Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday, 29th March 2005, viz, that the Works Ministry should not sign a third extension of PLUS’  North-South Expressway concession to 50 years without parliamentary consultation and consent. 

My motion reads:

 

“That the House gives leave to  Ketua Pembangkang YB Lim Kit Siang to adjourn the House under S.O. 18 (1) to discuss a definite matter of  urgent public importance –  prior parliamentary consultation and consent before the Works Ministry signs a third extension of PLUS’  North-South Expressway  (NSE) concession from initially 25, then 30, 42 and the latest 50 years.

 

“Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced on Thursday that the Cabinet has agreed to extend PLUS’ NSE concession period by eight years and seven months under a package to upgrade the expressway, viz: adding two additional lanes in the Seremban-Ayer Keroh and Rawang-Tanjung Malim stretches and relocating the Jelapang toll booth in Ipoh.

 

“The RM1.37 billion upgrading  would be financed by a Federal Government loan of RM962 million, the taking over of the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway by Plus which was estimated at RM50.27 million and the extension of the concession which cost RM361.89 million.  PLUS would also get a commercial loan of RM900 million to carry out the additional work.

 

“The signing of a third extension of PLUS’ NSE concession without parliamentary consultation or even consent is unacceptable and undesirable for the following reasons:

 

“Firstly, continuing  a history of one-sided privatization contracts over-solicitous of the corporate interests of the concessionaires at the expense of the consumers and motorists, with repeated toll hikes without proper representation by the motorists.

 

“Secondly, violation of the pledges by the new Prime Minister  17 months ago, promising  a more accountable, transparent and consultative form of governance and to respect Parliament’s independent role from the Executive in keeping with the doctrine of separation of powers. 

 

“Thirdly, violation of the new administration’s fundamental review of privatization contracts to address the problem of privatization deals which are so lop-sided against the long-term interests of consumers and the ordinary rakyat.”

 (in Bahasa Malaysia): 

 

“Bahawa Dewan ini memberikan kebenaran kepada Ketua Pembangkang YB Lim Kit Siang untuk menangguhkan Dewan di bawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 18 (1) untuk membincang suatu perkara tertentu berkenaan kepentingan orang ramai yang berkehendak disegerakan, iaitu rundingan dan kelulusan Parlimen diadakan dan diperolehi terlebih dahulu sebelum Kementerian Kerja Raya menandatangani pemanjangan tempoh konsesi kali ketiga Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan PLUS daripada 25 tahun, menjadi 30, 42 dan terbarunya 50 tahun.

 

“Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu mengumumkan Khamis lalu bahawa Kabinet telah bersetuju untuk memanjangkan tempoh konsesi Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan PLUS selama lapan tahun dan tujuh bulan di bawah suatu pakej untuk menaik taraf lebuh raya tersebut, iaitu: menambah dua lorong tambahan di bahagian Seremban-Ayer Keroh dan Rawang-Tanjung Malim dan menempat semula plaza tol Jelapang di Ipoh.

 

“Penaiktarafan berjumlah RM1.37 bilion tersebut akan dibiayai oleh suatu pinjaman Kerajaan Persekutuan sebanyak RM962 juta, pengambilalihan Lebuh Raya Seremban-Port Dickson oleh PLUS yang dianggarkan bernilai RM50.27 juta dan pemanjangan tempoh konsesi yang melibatkan RM361.89 juta. PLUS juga akan mendapat suatu pinjaman komersil sebanyak RM900 juta untuk menjalankan kerja tambahan tersebut.

 

“Tindakan menandatangani pemanjangan ketiga tempoh konsesi Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan PLUS tanpa rundingan ataupun kelulusan Parlimen adalah sesuatu perkara yang tidak boleh diterima dan tidak wajar di atas sebab-sebab berikut:

 

“Pertama sekali, perihal meneruskan sejarah perjanjian penswastaan berat sebelah yang terlalu mementingkan kepentingan korporat pemegang konsesi dan mengetepikan kepentingan pengguna dan pemandu kenderaan, ditambah dengan kenaikan tol berulang kali tanpa perwakilan sewajarnya oleh pemandu kenderaan.

 

“Keduanya, pelanggaran janji Perdana Menteri baru 17 bulan lalu untuk mewujudkan sebuah pentadbiran yang lebih bertanggungjawab, telus dan bersifat rundingan dan menghormati peranan Parlimen yang bebas daripada Eksekutif selaras dengan doktrin pengasingan kuasa.

 

“Ketiga, pelanggaran tanggungjawab pentadbiran baru untuk mengkaji semula perjanjian-perjanjian penswastaan untuk menangani masalah urus janji penswastaan yang begitu berat sebelah dan tidak mengambil kira kepentingan jangka panjang pengguna dan rakyat jelata.”

 

 

(28/3/2005)


*  Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman