KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26, 2009) : Users of five highways including the North-South Expressway (PLUS) will have to pay increased toll rates from March 1, a move that has got politicians from both side of the divide giving it the thumbs down.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed, who announced this today, said the cabinet had approved the increase based on the terms of the concession agreements for PLUS, Sprint Highway, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Sungai Besi Highway (BESRAYA) and New Pantai Expressway (NPE).

For the PLUS highway, the new toll rate is 14.28 sen per kilometre -- up by 0.68 sen.

However, the toll increase does not apply at the toll plazas at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Johor Causeway and Bangunan Sultan Iskandar.

For the other four highways, which operate on an open toll system, the fixed toll charges have been increased by between 10 sen and 50 sen.

The Minister who only gave the rates for passenger cars at a press conference at his ministry here, described the increase as "marginal", citing the example of a car paying only a 30 sen increase in toll for travel from Jalan Duta to Bukit Raja (34km).

To soften the impact of his announcement, he noted that PLUS had recently given users discounts if they use the highway between midnight and 7am.

He said as for the Besraya highway, users will only have to pay at the Mines toll plaza, since the Salak Jaya toll collection had been abolished on Feb 24, enabling them to go from Jalan Istana to Sungei Besi town without paying toll.

Mohd Zin said the rise in toll rates was to have been implemented on Jan 1 last year but had been postponed to Feb 28 this year, causing the government to compensate a sum of RM245 million to the operators -- RM177 million to PLUS, RM38 million to SPRINT and RM30 million to AKLEH.

He said the raise in the toll rates should not be looked at as a burden because the quality of the highway would be ensured and upgraded.

In his press statement, Mohd Zin also listed down the alternative toll-free routes for the five highways.

The minister's announcement got Members of Parliament from both the ruling Barisan Nasional and the opposition camp upset.

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers’ Club (BNBBC) chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the timing was bad as there is a world economic recession and the government is trying to help the country fight the impact. "We are also looking into the possibility for the government to buy PLUS Expressways Bhd shares."

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated that the they will never agree with decisions that burden the people. He alleged that the toll agreements benefitted certain people at the expense of the people.

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PM to ask Cabinet to reconsider toll hikes MPs give thumbs down to toll hike