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The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Nanta: Toll charges could've risen 83% without govt intervention
KUALA LUMPUR: Private vehicle users could have seen toll charges rise by as much as 83% at 10 highways nationwide this year if not for the government's decision to postpone the hike, says Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (pic). He said the rates would have ranged between 50sen and RM4.56 for private cars or Class 1 vehicles, amounting to about RM136 monthly or RM1,632 annually. The projections were based on a private car user travelling on 10 tolled highways for 20 days a month, or 240 days annually. 'If there was no postponement, road users would have felt a significant impact. We hope that it can at least ease the cost of living burden, especially for those who use the highways daily,' he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. The 10 highways are the Cheras-Kajang Expressway (Grandsaga), Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar), New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB), Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE), East Coast Expressway Phase 2 (LPT2), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge (JSAHMS), Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Maju Expressway (MEX) and the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB). Nanta said the toll hike postponement would involve all vehicles – from Class 1 to Class 5 except for the LLB. The toll hike postponement for the LLB only applies to Class 5 vehicles, as Classes 1 to 4 have already reached the maximum toll hike rates allowed under the concession agreement. Class 1 vehicles generally refer to private cars, Class 2 for vans and light goods vehicles, Class 3 for heavy vehicles with three or more axles, Class 4 for taxis, and Class 5 for buses. He added that the government will also have to pay a compensation of RM568.92mil annually to the concessionaires owing to the postponement. Nanta was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan), who asked about the implications of the government postponing toll rate hikes for this year. On July 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the postponement of toll hikes for 10 highways that were scheduled to take effect this year. On another matter, Nanta said abolishing tolls is not easy, adding that it will require the government to cough up billions for highway maintenance. He said the funds could instead be used for other priorities. 'Instead, the government funds can be used in states like Kelantan, Terengganu or Sabah and Sarawak, which do not have tolled roads,' he told Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut), who asked if the government planned to abolish tolls. The minister said there was a possibility that toll rates could be reduced once highway concessionaires achieve their return on investment. 'Then, we can possibly see toll rates be reduced,' he said.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Abolishing tolls would cost govt billions that can be put to better use, says Works Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The money the government would need to spend on highway maintenance if tolls are abolished can be used for other priorities, says the Works Ministry. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi ( pic ), said abolishing tolls is not easy, and the government would have to cough up billions for highway maintenance. ALSO READ: Private car users would have faced steep toll hike without postponement, Dewan Rakyat told 'Instead, these funds can be used in states like Kelantan, Terengganu or the territories of Sabah and Sarawak, which do not use tolls,' he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 29). He also said there is a possibility that toll rates can be reduced once highway concessionaires achieve their return on investment. 'Then, we can possibly see toll rates, which are considered burdensome now, reduced. That is more practical and realistic. ALSO READ: 'Toll hike delay eases burden on daily commuters' 'There is no need to abolish tolls now, for the benefit of the whole country, especially for states that do not use tolls,' he said. He was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut), who asked if the government planned to abolish tolls. Ahead of its victory in the 14th General Election in 2018, Pakatan Harapan had pledged to abolish tolls if it came into power.
