KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — A DAP lawmaker questioned the need to increase to toll collected at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Causeway three months ago, pointing out that the concessionaire is expected to reap RM4.35 billion in profits by the end of the 34 years agreement period.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said that since the controversial hike at the highway linking Johor Baru to Singapore, the concessionaire — Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd —  has collected RM10.7 million in toll in August from inbound and outbound private vehicles and buses traveling between the Straits of Johor.

“... and this RM4.3 billion sum is without calculating the future increases in traffic volume and toll hike,” Teo told reporters at the Parliament lobbby today, citing a written parliamentary reply from the Works Ministry last week.

Previously, the Works Ministry had reasoned that the increase at the CIQ was necessary to counter having to fork out RM11 million to keep the Eastern Dispersal Link Highway — which connects the CIQ to the North-South Expressway — free.

According to the written reply dated November 4, there were 729,657 outbound vehicles and 721,384 inbound vehicles were recorded to have made the journey between Johor Baru and the island state.

“Therefore, MRCB’s which had spent about RM1.2 billion to construct the EDL could easily collect the payment from the RM4.3 billion earned during the concession period,” noted Teo.

“Even if MRCB is tasked to provide the maintenance for the facilities within the CIQ Complex, the profit that they are going to make from the toll concession is still exorbitant,” she said, urging the ministry to declassify the concession agreement.

Critics and analysts have surmised that the increase was to help pay for the RM1.27 billion EDL, which remains toll-free following Putrajaya’s pledge to keep it so.

“We demand the federal government handle the CIQ toll hike with complete transparency as it has severely burdened the daily life of many Johoreans,” said Teo.