Nation-wide Toll Plazas protests will continue for at least another Sunday to protest against unfair highway tolls, in particular against  another round of toll increases from next Monday

(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): The Coalition Against Toll (CAT) at its meeting in Petaling Jaya last night decided that the nation-wide toll plazas protests will continue for at least another Sunday in protest against unfair highway privatisation and unfair highway tolls, in particular against another round of toll increases effective from next Monday.

The CAT called on the Cabinet at its meeting tomorrow to heed the voice of the people clearly expressed in the nation-wide toll plazas protests in the past four weeks and to take the decision to freeze all toll rate increases until a full review of highway privatisation and highway toll rates had been conducted by a Highway Consultative Council.

The CAT, which comprises political parties and NGOs, also expressed grave regret at the cancellation of the  Mammoth Anti-Toll Protest Public Rally planned  at Bukit Jalil Stadium on Friday, February 26 because of the conspiracy between the police and the Bukit Jalil Stadium authorities, the latter claiming that the stadium would be under renovation after accepting a RM2,500 deposit for the rental of the stadium for the rally.

At least 30,000 people from all over the country would have gathered for the Mammoth Anti-Toll Protest Public Rally at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, which would have made history for three reasons:
 

• A historic turning point in the crystallisation of the people’s long-suffering grievances against unfair highway privatisation and unfair highway tolls into a national movement.
• The first genuine Malaysian People’s gathering from all races, religions and  political beliefs, coming on their own volition, propelled by shared common goals and not ferried to the rally  by professional  "rent-a-crowd" organisers.
• Demonstration to the government and the world that Malaysians of a greater maturity in Malaysian democracy where the people  can exercise their constitutional and fundamental rights of freedom of speech and assembly in an orderly and peaceful manner mindful of the importance of preserving peace and order in our society.

The CAT called on Malaysians all over the country to attend the substitute anti-toll protest public rally, which will now be held at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Monday, March 1, 1999 - the same day the new toll rate increases for four expressways will come into force.

The CAT has decided to draft and present a  People’s Charter Against Unfair Toll (CAUT) at the Anti-Toll Protest Public Rally at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Monday, which should serve as an important plank to express the people’s wishes in the next general elections.

The People’s Charter Against Unfair Toll is  not meant to  be a Charter for any political party, whether opposition or government, but should be the People’s Charter meant for endorsement by all political parties in the country.

For this reason, Barisan Nasional component parties would also be invited to give inputs in the drafting of the People’s Charter Against Unfair Toll.

The CAT also decided to send an Open Invitation to all Members of Parliament and State Assembly members, whether Barisan Nasional or Opposition, to the anti-toll protest public rally at Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Monday. This statement would serve as an Open Invitation to all elected representatives from all political parties to the anti-toll protest public rally on Monday and no separate written invitations would be sent out.

MPs and State Assemblymen/women, whether Barisan Nasional or Opposition, who wish to confirm their attendance at the anti-toll protest public rally on Monday can contact the CAT Secretariat, tel: 7578022.

(23/2/99)