Road Malaysia

What a ridiculous price to pay to own a car and commute. How could somebody idiotic mind led us to this rubbish system. The minute we bought ourselves a car (which is actually essential purchase) is the minute that we enslaved ourselves to this irrational systems. First, we have to pay RM900 at least to obtain a licence and RM 30 annual licence cost. Then, 140% is charged on excise duty on top of ‘declared’ total cost for the car in Malaysia. 10% sales tax on top of the grand total. Insurance which is ridiculously expensive comparative to the return (processing time to claim and re-valuation of the car during claims). Then, come road tax which government keen on reducing mostly to ignore necessity to build more PUBLIC road. Later, come the ridiculous fuel cost and tollbooth that are mostly impossible to avoid.

Yes, somebody made a mistake on the toll concession deal. 10% increases every 3 years plus government commitment to back every cent for losses made. Now there are ‘discussion’ between concessionaire and government on possibilities of reducing the toll. But in the press statement, the two main element of 10% increase and no-loss assurance was mentioned. I am not sure what sort of agreement would be concluded and if there actually rakyat’s money will not further wasted by government on making some individual wealthier.

Most likely, we would never rid of the stupid clauses that was agreed and endorsed by the empowered body before without the expense of our money to make sure some individual wealth growth not to be interfered. But, I am really sure that somebody in the office there would have some level of intelligent to use some other method. In business, supply and demand rules always applied. Each year, more than half million vehicle registered in Malaysia and the figure will keep increasing on exponential rate (due to low vehicle disposal rate). The more packed and jammed the highway, the more government have to pay the concessionaire with our money. Ironically, it is a trend now to put tollbooth on most of the new road developed. What had happened to public road development? Are we ignoring this development? What happened to all the charges that we paid? Only with alternative but reasonably fast route would enable us to have a choice to avoid this tollbooth and still arrived at destination and timely order. Aren’t that what out government should provide. Then the toll charges will not matter and they can charge any amount that they want and a single cent will not come out from our pocket. Demand will drop and supply demand rule will supersede the price and eventually will become more reasonable through time.

Personally, I don’t think government move on reducing the road tax as an incentive to reduce our burden was necessary. It was merely burdens that our government themselves intelligently created. I will not mind to pay the original amount providing that I have a free road to drive on. I want alternative free and quality road. I want government to stop awarding new road development to privatized concessionaire that will eventually and proudly build a tollbooth in the expense of our money anyway.

Summary:
1. Make good alternative public road.
2. Use transportation related revenue for transportation related development. Not to central government and spent at central government discretion
3. Review cost thoroughly to reduce over-payment to contractors
4. Stop confusing people with this road tax reduction bullsh*t
5. Stop awarding highway development that will eventually have more tollbooth
6. Sue those ‘intelligence’ that allow the concessionary deal sign-off. Shift government (rakyat’s) liability to personal liability.
7. Toll should be charged (if any) in cents not Ringgit. Charges should only cover cost of maintenance.
8. Review all the contract include R&R toilet cleaning contract. Somebody is sitting on sh* t load amount of money there.