Fomca To Send Memo Against Toll Hike To PM On Monday

PETALING JAYA, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) today launched a month-long campaign to get one million signatures to protest the 10 per cent rise in toll charges on the North-South Highway scheduled to begin on Jan 1 next year.

Fomca will also submit a memorandum to the prime minister's office on Monday, calling the government to abort the hike and make public and review the terms of the concession agreement.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the launch of the campaign at its office here, Fomca President Marimuthu Nadason said the hike was not proper because, among other things, the quality of the infrastructure and the service at the highway were unsatisfactory.

He said there were also a lack of transparency in the agreement and the absence of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) laws.

"Above all, the increase will burden the people, especially the lower-income group," he said.

He said Fomca hoped it would get the government response to its campaign after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Forms for the people to sign will be given through the government departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations.

The public can also express their support for the campaign through e-mail: toll@fomca.org.my or fax 03-78771076. They can also visit the website www.petitiononline.com/no2hike/petition.html or download the form from the website www.fomca.org.my.

-- BERNAMA