KUALA LUMPUR – The Bentong Municipal Council (MPB) had to issue a stop work order on the construction of a toll plaza on Jalan Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands, as the developer had not sought approval, Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman said.
Even though the toll plaza would be built on private land, authorisation from the MPB and the Pahang government was still required, she said in a statement today.
“Genting Highlands is privately-owned land. All this while the road leading to it has been maintained by Genting Highlands’ management.
“Any development project on privately-owned land still required planning approval from the local authority.
“To date, MPB and the Pahang government have not received any application for approval to build a toll plaza,” Young Syefura said.
The stop work order will be in place until the developer submits a proper application to the authorities, she added.
Young Syefura said she was informed about the toll plaza on October 13 and that neither the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) nor the Works Ministry were aware of it.
Chinese daily Sin Chew first reported plans to collect toll from visitors headed to the tourist haven in Genting Highlands, which is in the Bentong constituency.
The toll is to be collected by Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd, the company that maintains roads in Genting Highlands.
Sin Chew had also reported, citing a company spokesman, that those driving down from Genting Highlands would not have to pay the toll.
The Batang Kali-Gohtong Jaya road was built in the mid-1960s by Genting Malaysia Bhd, and Lingkaran Cekap has been maintaining slopes, roads, sewage system and streetlights as well as clearing debris.
Genting has a 49.4% interest in Lingkaran Cekap, according to a 2022 annual report. – October 21, 2023