KUALA LUMPUR: The government has yet to make a decision on whether to allow toll rates for highways to be hiked up next year.
In a statement yesterday, the Works Ministry clarified misconceptions arising from a statement in the Dewan Rakyat by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
Rosnah had said an application for RM558.89 million had been made as compensation should the government decide not to allow rates to be raised.
The statement said this did not mean the government had decided either way, as this was standard procedure to ensure funds were readily available should toll hikes not occur.
“Nowhere in Rosnah’s answer on Tuesday did she mention that there would be no toll hikes next year,” the statement said.
According to the concession agreement for 2015, there were 20 highways eligible for an increase in toll prices.
The concessionaires that had been listed during Budget wind up speech were: Ampang-Kuala Lumpur elevated highway, Sprint Expressway, New Pantai Expressway, Kajang Silk Highway, Storm Water Management and Road Tunnel, South Klang Valley Expressway, Besraya Expressway, Senai Desaru Expressway, Butterworth Outer Ring Road and Guthrie Corridor Expressway.
Others eligible are Kajang-Seremban Highway, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway, Maju Expressway, Damansara Puchong Highway, New North Klang Straits Bypass, East Coast Expressway, Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, Cheras-Kajang Grand Saga Highway, Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway and the Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway.
The statement also said the government had set up a special committee to address the People’s Cost of Living chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to look into whether an increase in toll prices would be feasible with current costs of living.
The committee may also propose alternative options to help lessen the burden of the public should toll prices increase.