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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
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