All highway concession contracts, except for the KL-Putrajaya Expressway (KLPE), will be declassified, said Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamad.

plus incentive announcement 181108 mohd zin Speaking at a press conference this morning at the Works Department headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Mohd Zin said the cabinet decided on the matter on Oct 17.

Following this, the government managed to obtain an agreement on the declassification from all highway operators except Maju Expressway Bhd, which manages the KLPE

Asked if Maju Expressway had refused to comply with the cabinet directive, Mohd Zin said he was unsure, adding that the company had yet to reply.

He assured that the declassification would take place by Jan 1 next year at the latest. However, it has been undecided if members of the public would have to buy the documents or would be able to read it for free.

‘We cannot act unilaterally’

However, Mohd Zin said that the government would not specify a deadline for Maju Expressway to respond because the matter has to be agreed mutually.

plus highway 050105 toll booths "If they don't agree, we cannot disclose (the contract)," he said.

With the declassification, Mohd Zin hopes the public can evaluate the commitments and the traffic volumes faced by highway concessionaires as well as the responsibilities of the government.

He said that it was an opportunity for the public to determine if there a profit sharing clause and that it would encourage the highway operators into providing additional incentives for motorist.

Opposition parties have often criticised the government for the clandestine nature of the highway agreements and leaked documents have often pointed to ‘lop-sided' contracts which benefited concessionaires mostly.

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