KUALA LUMPUR: Millions of motorists using all PLUS Malaysia Berhad-operated highways will enjoy toll rate reduction of 18%from midnight tonight.
The Pakatan Harapan government’s decision to reduce the toll rate by 18% will see, for example, the toll rate on the North-South Expressway be reduced from 13.6 sen/km to 11.15 sen/km, which is lower than the toll rate in 1999 at 11.24 sen/km.
With the new toll rates, a journey from Jalan Duta (Kuala Lumpur) to Alor Setar (Kedah) will cost road users RM45.50 compared to the current charge at RM55.50, while from Jalan Duta to Skudai in Johor to cost RM38.50 compared to the current RM47.
The decision was made at the Cabinet meeting on Jan 15 and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement said that the move was also in line with the announcement made during the tabling of the 2020 Budget.
More importantly, PLUS highway users can rest assured that there will be no more increase in toll rates for the next 38 years until the concession ends in 2058.
This is because, in line with this decision, the concession period for all PLUS highways has been extended by 20 years from 2038 to 2058 to ensure that PLUS to be able to carry out their highway maintenance and operation activities without depending on the government.
The toll rate reduction of 18% will be given to passenger vehicles, buses and taxis (Class 1,4 and) on the following expressways.
New Klang Valley Express (NKVE)
North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite)
Malaysian Singapore Second Link (Linkedua)
East Coast Highway Phase Two (LPT 2)
Port-Dickson-Seremban Highway (SPDH)
Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE)
The new rate will also apply to vehicles of Class 2, 3, 4 and 5 using the Penang Bridge.
In the statement, the PMO said the government believed that the decision would also enable PLUS to remain the highways’ operator and to continue to hold the company’s assets and liabilities as well as manage operating and maintenance costs.
It also clarified that the government would no longer bear the burden of paying compensation to PLUS, and this would save the government of RM42 billion.
“The RM42 billion savings can now be used for initiatives that benefit the people,” it said. — Bernama
