EDL is nothing to shout about, Shu Qi ― Arman Siddiqi

AUGUST 13 ― I am not a fan of tolls, but I am also not a fan of politicians who want to sensationalise things in order to make themselves look important.

This commentary is penned after reading an online portal report where Wong Shu Qi the assemblyman of Senai literally (or not) accused EDL of collecting tax.

My contention is all the noise-making is not going to lead to any solution. The people of Johor need solutions.

This EDL (Eastern Dispersal Link) is explained in its name. It has value to the people of Johor, the issue is about tolls not the correctness of having the EDL.

The DAP has been very loud about the matter, and Wong is just another one of the many DAP MPs and assemblymen who just want to get more newspaper headlines.

As I said, the EDL is good for many people, but maybe the issue is in the details, like where the tolls will be. MP for Pulai, YB Nur Jazlan’s view is on how to correct the situation, not just to blame people. I see YB’s article in Lim Kit Siang’s blog, but like all the DAP people, this veteran is shouting about why prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not honouring his promise to not have a toll.

Going back to Miss Wong, she was critical of of MRCB, the concessionaire behind the highway, and the Malaysian Highway Authority.

Her premise is that the concessionaire said that Singaporean residents can afford the toll and that they are using Malaysian roads for free, therefore the company is saying that the toll is specifically to collect from Singapore residents.

This is being liberal with the statement. The company is just saying it mitigates the damage to them.

Right now with the toll being where it is makes sure more Johor based, which means Johor residents can benefit from the EDL without paying toll. In this time of economic stagnation and inflation, this is saving Malaysian families money. A good highway at literally no cost.

Sometimes government have to think of their own people before other citizens. The Singapore government prohibits Malaysians from many things, because we are not Singaporean, so there is no reason to get all upset.

DAP is also a closet supporter of Singapore and even had the guts to say that it is Singapore's right to increase their VEP rates from SGD$20 (RM51) to SGD$35.

That begs the question, where the hell is the Malaysian government's rights then? I guess, that is not at the top of their mind. Maybe, the Selangor MB is really messing the minds of these DAP napoleons.

Two things left, the lower income Malaysian going to Singapore and Kit Siang’s demand for a free highway because it was promised, according to him.

The Malaysian support staffs commutes to Singapore daily use mainly buses or motorcycles. The EDL rates don’t affect them. In fact if less cars use the causeway because of the EDL toll, then the buses and motorcycles can travel quicker and better using it.

The Singaporean government subsidises less profitable bus routes because they are important, so there will be no big increase in bus fares, and factories will absorb costs because they know they are relying on Malaysians on less pay than Singaporeans.

So the people DAP are trying to protect are the car-owning Malaysians over there, which I guess are their key voters. They are protecting their voters, which is ok, but they should just say so.

Second, and final, is that they Najib said no toll. I agree, this was done in 2012 as an election ploy. Kit Siang is no child. The Cheras toll was reduced to 50 sen in 1990 and Batu toll eventually put up after a delay. Tolls are necessary when they are private enterprises, and the government must decide if all Malaysians should pay, direct payment, or just those using the highway.

Kit Siang pointed out, that RM11 million was being paid monthly by the government to EDL since they waived the toll in 2012. The toll is now going to save the government the money.

It is not wrong for the concessionaire to say that Singaporeans generally are richer than us, they are. Even the permanent residents there. That is not an admission to anything.

Low income earners are not going to lose out and tolls must happen when highways are contracted out. Even if Pakatan was in power, it would have delayed some not to popular decisions close to elections.

Can we hear win-win solutions from the DAP people instead? Or maybe they should be camping out at the SUK Building in Shah Alam to sort out the mess they got themselves into with their bed partners, PAS and PKR.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.