Lanang Bridge Toll To Be Abolished - CM

Effective 25th May 2015, the toll for Lanang Bridge will be abolished and there will also be no toll imposed for Igan Bridge which was earlier planned to have toll.

Chief Minister Datuk Tan Sri Haji Adenan Satem said that, the State Government have also started the negotiation with the concessionaire of Tun Salahudin Bridge.

"The second measure is to abolish toll on bridges in the State. Currently there are three bridges where tolls are imposed namely Tun Salahudin Bridge in Kuching, Lanang Bridge in Sibu and Asean Bridge in Miri."

"The government has agreed to standardise the charges of ferry fares for passenger cars at RM1.00 for every ferry service in Sarawak including Long Lama and Marudi effective 1st June and 1st July 2015 respectively whereby currently in certain areas, motorists have to pay between RM10.00 and RM15.00 per crossing."

"WWe want to lessen the burden of ferry users especially those in the rural and coastal areas. We mean business in helping the rakyat and the business community. We deliver what we have promised and we do not believe in rhetoric or lip service."

He said this in winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly Sitting at Petra Jaya, Kuching here today.

On the State's recent electricity tariff reduction for domestic consumers, Adenan said that, it was made possible because of the successful operation of Bakun Hydropower, timely completion of Murum Hydropower and successful securing of power from the SCORE customers setting up here.

"The total amount of water royalty expected to be collected from Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum HEPs in 2015 is RM100 million."

"In the last sitting, I have announced the electricity tariff reduction for domestic consumers and the electricity tariff reduction for domestic consumers effective from 1stJanuary 2015 saw about 240,000 customers or 50% of SEB's domestic consumers enjoyed reduction of between 20% to about 40%," he said adding that, another 130,000 customers of low income group are now enjoying zero monthly bills as these are paid by the Government.

He said that, with further success expected of the SCORE agenda and hydropower developments, it is timely that commercial and industrial consumers also benefit from the government initiatives.

"With this in mind, effective from 1st June this year, I wish to announce that the electricity tariff for commercial and industrial tariffs will be reduced."

"This reduction will benefit all the current 85,200 commercial and industrial businesses or customers and out of this number, 50% or 46,000 commercial consumers will enjoy a reduction of about 15% to 50%. Another36% or 30,500 consumers will enjoy about 8% to 11% reduction," he said adding that, the balance 9,000 consumers will enjoy a reduction of average 4%.

Adenan said that, for industrial consumers, about 980 or 87% of them will benefit between 4% to 40% reduction in tariff and the balance 125 consumers will enjoy a reduction of average 2%.

"These revised structures aim to provide greater assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. This will assist the business community especially the smaller players and entrepreneurs in the face of the rising cost of operations in Sarawak."

"The revised tariffs structure for the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors is an element of direct assistance given to the rakyat by the State to reduce the rising cost of living and cost of doing business in Sarawak," he added.

Touching on the term of title upon Subdivision and Application for Variation of Title Condition (AVTC), Adenan said that, prior to 7th July 2014, the State Planning Authority (SPA) has made it as a condition of approval of development that the subdivided titles of land with terms of more than 99 years and those held in perpetuity, be reduced to 99 years.

"This ruling has caused consternation amongst some land owners who felt that the condition imposed was rather unfair to them. While acknowledging the reasons behind this move, with effect from 7th July 2014, I have decided that for titles having perpetuity term, the new subdivided titles will also carry the perpetuity term," he added.

Regarding on NCR cases in the court, Adenan said that, land dispute between plantation owners and claimants of NCR land is a recurring issue that has dragged the Government to Court as a party accused of being responsible.

"To date and based on records in the Land and Survey Department, there are a total of 124 of such cases at various stages of the Court process."

"This problem, if left unchecked will be a constant drain on everyone’s time, worse it gives fodder for the detractors to accuse the Government of a slew of wrongdoings from land grab to the rape of the countryside."

"I take the position that if the parties involved are prepared to settle their cases outside of the Court, the Government will assist them to do so. I am even prepared to give the Natives, land either under Section 7 or Section 6 of the Land Code. But I must emphasize that the Government will not tolerate ludicrous land claim that extend from “sunrise to sunset”," he added. - Sarawakiana