HUA HIN, Thailand: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government’s decision to postpone the toll increase on five highways, which was originally scheduled to take effect today, to the end of the year, has nothing to do with the three by-elections that will be held soon.

“No … no. I don’t think that has anything to do with the by-elections,” said the Prime Minister when asked whether the decision by the Cabinet on Friday had anything to do with the by-elections for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state seats which will be held simultaneously on April 7 as well as the Batang Ai state seat.

On the contrary, he said, the government was prepared to bear the burden of paying compensation in excess of RM500 million to the concession holders because the government was aware of the burden borne by the people in view of the current economic slowdown.

On the proposal that the government takes over the highway concessions, Abdullah said it had to be studied thoroughly because of the extremely high cost involved while it had to spend on other things too.

“This (compensation) is actually a very heavy burden for the government. We must all understand … when we face problems, we must also sacrifice,” he told Malaysian journalists covering the 14th Asean Summit.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed had announced in Kuala Lumpur that the cabinet, which called for a meeting on Friday, had postponed the toll increase following the weak economy currently besides the strong opposition from the people.

As a result of the postponement, the government must pay compensation totalling RM195 million to PLUS, Sprint (RM36 million), Akleh (RM27 million), Besraya (RM9 million) and NPE (RM20 million) for the period beginning Jan 1 until Dec 31 this year, in addition to the RM245 million which had already been paid to PLUS, Akleh and Sprint earlier.

Abdullah said he had contacted his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday asking the cabinet to reconsider the increase as it was not in line with the government’s plan to provide assistance to the people through the stimulus package.

“We are now providing assistance to the people and the toll increase appears to draw strong opposition from the people. When the Cabinet discussed the matter two weeks ago, a proposal (to raise the toll) was made at a time when our economic situation was not as severe as it is today … if our economy is bad, it is most appropriate that the proposed increase be reconsidered,” he added.

When asked whether the compensation paid to the concession holders would be included in the stimulus package in the form of a mini budget that would be tabled in Parliament next month, Abdullah said the details would be decided by the Treasury.

— Bernama