Anti-toll hike protest.
My first protest was back in May 28 2006 at KLCC. It was otherwise known as the Bloody Sunday protest. There will be another one this Saturday at the same spot at 3pm and I strongly urge those who have never attended a public protest to show up and experience democracy for yourself. Wear good shoes, bring an extra change of clothes and steer clear of harm’s way should anything untoward happen.
It actually quite fun and often very peaceful. But I need not say more, just go :) You won’t regret it.
:)
Gabungan Memprotes Kenaikan Harga Minyak (PROTES) yang terdiri daripada Badan-badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) dan Parti-parti Politik memandang berat suasana inflasi tidak terkawal yang sedang menekan kehidupan rakyat terutamanya yang berpendapatan rendah, seperti kenaikan bayaran tol beberapa lebuhraya, kenaikan harga barangan keperluan harian, kenaikan tarif bekalan eletrik dan air, serta kemungkinan besar kenaikan harga bahan bakar pada masa terdekat.
Ekoran daripada itu, PROTES akan menganjurkan himpunan aman bagi membantah kegagalan kerajaan BN menangani masalah ini. Himpunan ini akan diadakan seperti maklumat berikut:
Tarikh : 26 Januari 2008 (Sabtu)
Masa : 3 petang
Tempat : Hadapan KLCC, Jalan Ampang, KLPROTES ingin menyeru rakyat yang prihatin untuk hadir beramai-ramai dan menyeru lebih banyak organisasi masyarakat menyertai dalam penganjuran himpunan ini.
Sebarang pertanyaan tentang PROTES, sila hubungi Dr Hatta Ramli (019-3398659) dan Arutchelvan (019-2537791)
January 25th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Since the police dissalow the issuance of permit for the aforesaid protest, vote for “Keadilan”. I read on the other blogs that Anwar pledge of lowering fuel prices if Keadilan won the impending election. Was he talking about the coalition of opposition alliance? Hopefully it’s not a rhethorical propaganda.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
This time use water cannon again ah ?
January 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
they used water cannon in 2006 but water wasn’t laced. klcc is too touristy, if they lace the water cannons, some foreigner is bound to get hurt and they can’t risk that.
bring goggles!!
January 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
TAKE OVER TOLL COMPANIES
During the upheaval of the financial crisis in the late 90s, when negotiations for the LDP, were progressing, the then Government had no choice but to accede to very generous terms to ensure the project was viable and did happen. EPF was among the institutions that offered loans at very generous terms.
The end result, the public have been totally mis-guided by private enterprise, whilst the government had to continuously defend its decision. For starters, the issue of compensation, toll increases were contractual and the reason given was that the toll was a burden and had to be cheaper and therefore the need to be compensated.
The facts are contrary to what has been provided by Gamuda in particular. A national English daily on January 17, 2007 (not the NST) quoted Gamuda Bhd managing director Datuk Lin Yun Ling that “ The toll rate increase on the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) did not necessarily make toll concessionaire Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Bhd (Litrak) cash-rich, as was commonly perceived. The public should not misconstrue Litrak’s RM80mil net profit for the year ended March 31, 2006 as being a huge profit, he said, given that the net cash that flowed into Litrak’s coffers in fiscal 2006 only came to RM6mil.”
This is far from the truth. As a public listed company, Litrak’s revenues are public information. Litrak have collected total revenue of RM1,284 billion and has made a profit of RM555.4 million. Litrak have made a total of RM70 million in dividend payments in 2004/05. In 2005 Litrak also made a capital re-distribution of over RM120 million. What this means is that Litrak and its shareholders have sucked out RM190 million and yet the claim of no profits. This does not take into account how much profit Gamuda make from building this highway. Coincidentally, this is the same amount of compensation given by the Government.
Their intention is to totally mis-lead the public and thereby force the government to accede to their contractual obligations and continue making profits. The Government is in a no-win situation because of these contracts.
If need be, as per the agreement as was outlined in the Annual Reports, the Government may terminate the Concession Agreement by expropriation of the concession company or the concession at any time by giving three months written notice to LITRAK.
With the current potential toll collection and compensation Litrak stands to collect close to RM350 million a year. The solution to deflect such profiteers is for the government to create a public infrastructure trust fund and inject such highways into it. The public and institutional investors can easily fund this project as Litrak is capatilized at around RM1.4 billiion and even a 5% annual dividend only entails a annual payment of RM75 million, with more than enough for maintenance and repayment of loans.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
If they arrest me I will just say I am shopping around and saw some commotion outside so I decided to kepoh a bit and then I kena arrested.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:28 am
[…] polytikus for details and tips on what to […]
January 26th, 2008 at 8:13 am
We need a government that is firm enough to tell them enough is enough. We probably know why it is not happening. What’s your take Samy? Don’t forget they are still collecting toll at Karak Highway.
This basically means that car tax, road tax, licence, gasoline tax, duties, income tax, fees, loans, petronas revenues…..are not enough to cover road construction and maintainence, hence toll hike. How do we swallow this kind of BS? Something is really out of control and we do not have the needed forum to deny this in the parliment.
What do we do now? Let’s squeak, speak, roar. Let’s cry, scream, shout. Let’s vote BN out of office, and make it count.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
please do your assembly at some other places. I work near KLCC, don’t want traffic congestion. I totally agree with your cause, but please do it at some other places near titiwangsa perhaps? lake garden ker……
January 28th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Hi
I had written on something that touched my religous sensitivity but came to realised that it is an issue of muhibbah among the various races and religions.
I like to get others to discuss it so I am creating a tag to hear your view on an aspect of Muhibbah and how we as individual can promote Muhibbah. Tag at least 2 others after you’re finished.
You can read mine and the simple tag rules here.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
dear daus, for people like you, very easy, just press ALT-F4 NOW and ALL your problems will dissapear.
and yeah, when you run out of money to pay for your mortgage, your car loan, your daily expenses, then dont protest ok? go and sulk in a corner hmmmm maybe at taman titiwangsa.. lake gardens…
January 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
hi, i am new here but i have been following all these writings challenging the government. i think that being a claimed democratic country, we have every right to challenge the government. i have really been sick and tired of all these lies that they feed us with, thinking that we are stupid or something. it’s time we fight back to reclaim a better country for us and the kids.
Speak up! Come vote!