KICK THE TOLL OPERATORS OUT

When it comes to concession road operation, I have always believed that we have the wrong people and companies operating them.
They operate unilaterally, oblivious to whatever consequences it may result.
They do not have the business acumen to run it in such a way that it is a win-win situation for everyone. It would be cheaper for the country to rid off this bad situation.

It costs us roughly 20 cents per kilometre, to run a small car like Kancil 850 and definitely more for higher capacity cars.
The cost is inclusive of petrol (major portion), tyres, oil and the scheduled maintenance.
It is indeed quite expensive to run a car, since the petrol price increased to RM1.92 per litre, not to mention the toll as well. I believe car owners are well aware of this.

The stand-off between Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents and Grand Saga is totally unnecessary, and I would blame it on the Grand Saga management for being so foolish or they think they can bully the residents, with the federal government on their side?
Grand Saga could not care less if you have to spend RM1.20 to get to their toll gate and waste unnecessary ‘heavily subsidised’ petrol, as long as they get their 90 cents.
According to the developer who built the access way to Cheras – Kajang highway, they had the approval from the authority for the access way then, but the concessionaire said it was an agreement that they were never a part of it.
The government must have realised then, it would create overall saving for the government and its people, but here, the concessionaire just could not care less. I can see it coming, they want compensation.
This toll system, intended for the country to have better road system, for the benefit of its people and economy, has turn out to be a burden and a waste of public funds under the wrong operators.

The present concession operators are here to screw the public funds.
They get compensation for not increasing up to the intended price, and at the same time, make sure that their highways are more expansive to use, than the longer but free, public road.
You cannot blame the public to think that the government work hand in hand with the concessionaires to siphon off the public funds.
So, we are swirled into having higher subsidised petrol, higher toll, higher compensation ..... in a deepening whirlpool.

Update (May, 31st 2008):
As reported, the access road from Bandar Mahkota Cheras to Cheras-Kajang highway will remain open, pending court decision.
Also reported, under concession agreement, the concessionaire could claim from the government up to RM9,000 daily.
Under simple calculation, there are 38,000 residents (as reported), up to 6 km to the operator’s toll gate, the operator had calculated there is roughly 1 car to every 4 residents and would spend 2 trips per day, i.e. Rm1.80 and at least half of these motorists will use the toll gate. This works out to be Rm8550. The operator conveniently ignored the fact that at least a third of these residents would pass through the toll gate anyway. How in the first place, can our government get themselves cornered into such position? Any dispute of this nature will be very welcomed by concessionaires, no wonder such news are always well covered by our mainstream media, the more disputes the merrier.