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Monday meeting in Parliament of MPs, political parties, trade unions, consumers organizations and NGOs to discuss the formation of a Coalition Against Unfair Toll Increase (CAUTI)
Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya, Saturday): I am convening a meeting in Parliament House on Monday of Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional and Opposition, political parties, trade unions, consumer organizations and NGOs to discuss the formation of a Coalition Against Unfair Toll Increase (CAUTI) in the wake of nation-wide protest against the 10 percent North-South Expressway (NSE) toll hike scheduled to come into effect on 1.1.2005. The meeting will be held at Committee Room 2, Parliament on Monday, 20th December 2004 at 12 noon.
In view of the shortness of time which does not permit written communication or even to physically contact all MPs, political parties, trade unions, consumers organizations and NGOs, this announcement will serve as a notice and invitation to all who are concerned about unfair toll increases represented by the 10% NSE toll hike on 1.1.2005 to the Monday meeting. I have asked Sdr. Ronnie Liu to contact as many interested parties and organizations as possible in the next 48 hours, and all those who have queries should contact him, 012-2013656.
I have notified and discussed with the Barisan Backbenchers’ Club Chairman, Datuk Shahrir Samad and the Barisan Nasional MP for Sri Gading Datuk Mohamad Aziz with regard to the Monday meeting to establish CAUTI, both of whom are supportive of efforts to put a stop to unfair toll hikes. Mohamad Aziz will be a suitable candidate to be Chairman of CAUTI.
I am also publicly extending an invitation to the Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to the Monday meeting in Parliament to give a full briefing as to the reasons why the government has no option whatsoever but to uphold the NSE concession to allow the 10% toll hike on January 1, despite the strong and unanimous objection of MPs, both Barisan Nasional and Opposition, as well as the overwhelming majority of Malaysians.
It is clearly unacceptable, intolerable and untenable that Parliament and the people at large are impotent to ensure transparency and greater justice in the decision-making process affecting a key issue in a major privatization project imposing an oppressive burden on two generation of Malaysians. |