18 September 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Working Visit of the Hon. Dato? Seri S.Samy Vellu,
Minister of Works to Paris
from 17 to 21 September 2007
The Minister of Works of Malaysia, the Hon. Dato? Seri S. Samy Vellu arrived in Paris on Monday, 17 September 2007 to attend the 23rd World Road Congress 2007 held at the Palais de Congres from 17 to 21 September 2007.
2. Upon his arrival, the Hon. Minister attended the opening ceremony of the 23rd World Road Congress officiated by Mr. Dominique Bussereau, French Secretary of State in charge of Transport. The World Road Congress was attended by 4000 participants including 60 Ministers from all over the world responsible for road and transport.
3. Following the opening of the Congress, Mr. Dominique Bussereau together with the Hon. Dato? Seri S. Samy Vellu officially opened the Malaysian Pavilion, which was coordinated by PLUS Expressway Bhd. The Pavilion showcases Malaysia?s advances in infrastructural development, especially roads and bridges.
4. Among those who witnessed the opening were Malaysian Ambassador to France, H.E. Dato? S. Thanarajasingam; President of the World Road Association (PIARC), Mr. Colin Jordan; Director General of Public Works Department, Dato? Ir. Dr. Judin Abd Karim and Chairman of Malaysian Highway Authority, Dato? Ali bin Bahar. The Hon. Minister was also accompanied by a high-level business delegation specialising in the construction industry.
5. In the afternoon, the Hon. Minister attended the Ministerial Session roundtable. In his speech entitled ?The Implications of Extended or Generalised Road Pricing?, the Hon. Minister said that the toll concept in Malaysia is based on the ?user pay principle? with the private sector playing an important role. He added that the Malaysian Government had approved the construction of 25 privatised expressways exceeding USD 10 billion. ?This concept had helped to reduce the financial burden of the Government while improving services to the people. This had further stimulated social and economic development of the country,? he explained.
6. The Hon. Minister added that the Government of Malaysia subsidized the toll levied on expressway users to reduce their burden when travelling. ?Malaysia?s toll charges are the lowest in the world,? he stressed.
7. On Tuesday, 18 September 2007 the Hon. Minister will meet with the Secretary of State in charge of Transport, Mr. Dominique Bussereau for bilateral discussions.
8. H.E. Dato? S. Thanarajasingam, the Ambassador of Malaysia to France will host a dinner in honour of the Hon. Minister and his delegation at Rumah Malaysia on Wednesday,19 September 2007.
9. The Minister will leave Paris on Friday, 21 September 2007.
Embassy of Malaysia
18 September 2007
