No toll rates hike: DPM
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 5, 2014): The government has decided not to raise toll rates in 2014 to help Malaysians face rising prices. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) said the government will have to pay over RM400 million in compensation to concessionaires as per agreement with them.
The government is also considering renegotiation of toll concession agreements after a thorough review of existing concessions.
"There will be no toll price hikes for 2014 despite speculation by certain quarters," Muhyiddin told a press conference after chairing a meeting to address the rising cost of living.
He said there are 29 toll concessionaires nationwide with "if I am not mistaken, nine concessions" in the Klang Valley said to be considering a toll hike.
Last December, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof confirmed that toll rates at 15 highways would go up by between 50 sen and RM2 on Jan 1 this year but the exact quantum was not fixed.
The affected highways, apart from the LDP, Kesas and Sprint, are the New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), KL-Putrajaya Highway (MEX), Sungai Besi Besraya Highway, Smart Tunnel, Kajang Highway (Silk), Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB), Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE), Guthrie Corridor (GCE) and Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR).
Muhyiddin said the government made the decision not to raise tolls in the light of increasing criticism from various quarters over the rising cost of living, with hikes in prices of goods and subsidy cuts.
He said that this is one way of addressing the people's concerns on the rising cost of living.
He said the government has also decided to provide an allocation of RM120 million to food material suppliers like the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), National Fishermens Association of Malaysia (Nekmat) and National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) to ensure sufficient supply of food items in the market.