KUALA LUMPUR: From 2008 to 2013, the government had paid RM1,108.91 million in compensation to highway concessionaires as a result of the delay in imposing toll fare hikes.
For 2014, a total of RM402.99 million was paid to the concessionaires for the same purpose.
The Works Ministry believes the sum could have instead been used to boost the economy and benefit Malaysians.
“The government believes the compensation from the postponement of toll fare hikes could have been rightfully used to create multiplier effects to the nation's economy which can benefit Malaysians people as a whole,” said the ministry in a statement today.
The statement came in the wake of a series of toll hikes announced by concessionaires today. The toll increases ranged from 20 sen to RM6, set to take effect this Thursday (Oct 15).
The ministry said the adjustment in toll rates also only involves intra-city highways, instead of intercity ones.
Toll rates for buses however will remain unchanged to encourage the use of public transport as an option, as well as to reduce traffic and congestion leading into the city.
The highways involved are: Kajang Traffic Dispersal Ring Road (SILK); Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE); Maju Expressway (MEX); Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK); KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar); SMART tunnel; New Pantai Expressway (NPE); Besraya Highway; Lebuhraya Kajang Seremban (Lekas); Guthrie Corridor Expressway (Guthrie); Kemuning Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA); and the Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh).
The North-South Expressway (PLUS), however, would not see any changes to the current pricing.