Edmund Santhara (PH-Segamat) said only 2,800 locations out of some 11,000 nationwide would not impose the 50 sen surcharge for Touch ‘n Go reloads.

“Since there are no longer any additional lanes (for reloads), the company almost has a monopoly,” he said.

“They are making millions of ringgit. Why not place the company under GLCs like Khazanah Nasional or the Employees Provident Fund so that the profits can be enjoyed by the people?”

Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen said this would depend on the Cabinet, to which he would forward all suggestions of this nature.

However, Santhara said he wished to know Chong’s opinion on the matter.

Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) meanwhile called for the 50 sen surcharge to be abolished, but Chong said the money was not being collected on behalf of Touch ‘n Go.

“It is charged by individual operators for offering the additional services,” he said.

But Wee said users would have no choice but to reload their cards at such outlets as reload services are no longer available at highway toll plazas.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd said the move was aimed at reducing congestion caused by reload activities at toll plazas in the northern region (between Hutan Kampung and Ipoh Utara) and the southern region (between Seremban and Skudai).

Chong also said the 10% surcharge paid by Touch ‘n Go users at some parking facilities would be gradually removed.

He said the government had so far delayed doing so due to existing contracts. However, agreements with merchants from now on will not permit the fee to be passed on to consumers, he added.

Wee had said the 10% surcharge for parking fees was a burden to the people.

But Chong said it was inherited from the previous government.

“That is the policy we inherited from Barisan Nasional. Now we are correcting it,” he said.