PETALING JAYA: The Works Ministry has no plans to allow an increase in toll rates for some eight highways.
In a statement touching on the issue of toll increases, the Ministry said that “currently no discussion or decisions were made on this matter at the ministerial level”.
The statement added that as many as eight highways were eligible for an increase in toll rates next year.
It said that if the increase was not agreed to, the Government would have to pay as much as RM593mil in reparations.
“The Ministry is aware of the monetary burdens that the public currently face and will strive for a solution by conducting discussions with the concessionaires.
“In these meetings, issues that demand attention like reducing the monetary burden of toll users, the obligations of the concession holders to bond holders and guarantors, and Government interests and obligations must be addressed,” it said.
The statement added that these meetings would be conducted with the aim of reaching a “win-win situation” between the Government and concessionaires.
Previously, it was reported that PLUS Malaysia Bhd was scheduled to increase toll rates by 5% in 2016.
On Tuesday, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that he would oppose the proposed toll hike by PLUS and would urge the Government not to allow it.
In a related development, Bernama reported that Litrak would be offering toll discounts for motorists using the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) and SPRINT on Christmas Day.
“A 60 sen discount is given to LDP users and 20 sen to users of the SPRINT Highway for all classes of vehicles, this year,” said Litrak Group Communication Division manager Shah Rizal Mohamed Fawzi.
“The toll discount for Christmas Day, Dec 25, 2015 begins at 12.01am and ends at 11.59pm (one day),” he said after opening a 2015 Christmas Day special programme with House of Joy Handicapped Children at the National Zoo today.
On another matter, he said Litrak Group would use the electronic payment system fully from next year.
“This system is still at the trial stage and will be fully operational in March, 2016 for the SPRINT Highway and September 2016 for LDP,” he said.
Keyword: No plans to allow toll increase, says Works Ministry