UPDATE
Toll rates for 15 highways in Peninsula Malaysia will increase between 50 sen and RM2, effective on January 1, 2014.
The hike will affect motorists using NPE, SPRINT, MEX, LDP, Akleh (Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway), SMART, SILK, Lekas, SKVE, Kesas, Besraya, NNKSB, SDE, GCE, and BORR.
rates for North-South Expressway, NSE Central Link, Linkedua, and Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) will not be increased before 2015.
[Source]
___
With fuel and train fares rising, you really don’t think that we’re being spared from revised toll rates, right?
Malaysia Chronicle recently reported of the proposal for increased toll rates, and according to a minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, it has been deemed “unavoidable”. He claimed that it was an express condition in the concession agreement between the government and the highway concession companies.
Omar says that the roll rates should have been revised back in 2011. “However, the rate was maintained, and the government had to fork out RM400mil in compensation from taxpayers’ money, which could have been used for other purposes. Now it’s time to fulfill the condition,” he said.
Omar added that the hike was a fair measure for taxpayers, coupled with the fact that highways were alternative routes which they don’t use everyday.
Malaysiakini reported that 13 highways would see an increase in toll rates between 30sen and RM1.
Democratic Action Party (DAP)’s Gobind Singh Deo, who represents the densely populated area of Puchong, says Putrajaya should take steps to renegotiate contracts to reduce the toll rates, which obviously burdens the people.
“This includes the right to reduce toll charges where it is shown that the volume of traffic on that highway has increased. This means, the profit expected to be achieved has been realised much earlier,” he added.
Do you feel that the current toll rates are already a burden in your monthly budget? Share your thoughts about the increasing toll rates with us.
