Dr M: Why cut subsidies and then reduce toll rates

Sunday June 15, 2008
Dr M: Why cut subsidies and then reduce toll rates
By CHRISTINA KOH

TELUK INTAN: There is no point in reducing toll rates when the Government has already cut fuel subsidies, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Responding to reports that toll rates would likely be reviewed to lighten the burden of people, the former prime minister said it would be a case of money moving from “the left pocket to your right pocket”.
“What use is cutting fuel subsidies and yet increasing subsidies for tolls and other expenses?” he told a public forum entitled The Future of Malays in Malaysia yesterday.
Dr Mahathir said that the Government had to pay compensation to the concessionaires, adding that a thorough study should be done to determine if the move was truly viable.
On the fuel price increase, Dr Mahathir said the move was inevitable, noting that crude oil had increased to US$138 (RM441) per barrel from US$30 (RM96) when he first took over as prime minister.
Dr Mahathir said that while the fuel price increase could not be avoided, it should have been done gradually to lessened its effects on the people and give them time to make adjustments.
“At the same time, there must be efforts to increase the people’s income, such as through MTUC’s efforts to fix a minimum wage,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir said he was worried about the future of Malays if some continued the culture of accepting “bribes” as easy money from others.
He said such people were slaves to those who gave them bribes and he could foresee a time when states were run by Malays “bought” by other people.
“These people give bribes today because they want support from us.
“But there will be a time when Malays cannot contribute anything to them, and we will no longer be useful,” he warned.
Speaking on his leaving Umno, Dr Mahathir said he did not consider himself as having left the party.
“I love Umno but I feel this is not the Umno I know anymore. Umno is a party that is supposed to fight for the people, religion and country.
“But I see that the leadership does not champion Umno’s causes,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was a destroyer (perosak) of Umno.
“Never has Umno lost like this since Abdullah took over,” he declared.