PETALING JAYA: The increase in toll rates for three major highways, which was supposed to take effect on Jan 1 this year, has been postponed to next year.
Works minister Fadillah Yusof said this will cost the government RM2.25 billion in compensation, with negotiations to restructure toll rates ongoing with concession companies.
“The Cabinet has agreed for the restructuring of toll rates to be finalised before 2023,” he said in a statement today.
The hike in toll prices was supposed to affect the Kesas Highway, South Klang Valley Expressway and Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2).
Fadillah said the delay in hiking toll rates for several other highways and toll plazas, previously agreed to, will be further extended. They include the North-South Highway, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) and KL-Putrajaya Highway (MEX).
He said the Cabinet made the decision in its meeting on Wednesday in view of the rise in the cost of living for Malaysians.
He also said the RM2.25 billion compensation was based on the calculation set in the concession agreements.
“The actual amount of the compensation will be determined after a traffic verification process is conducted by the Malaysian Highway Authority.”-FMT