KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to postpone the toll hikes for this year involving Lebuhraya Shah Alam (Kesas), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), and the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2).
Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof in a statement said the 2021 toll hike was postponed from Jan 1 to Dec 31.
All three highways were scheduled for the toll hike starting Jan 1, this year.
"The decision was made following the government's concern over the public's rising cost of living caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and agreed to the postponement during the Cabinet meeting on Apr 28," the statement read.
Fadillah said there are 21 highways that were previously allowed to postpone the toll rate hike for all vehicle classes.
He said among the highways involved were the North-South Expressway (PLUS), Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Damansara Puchong Expressway (LDP) and KL - Putrajaya Expressway (MEX).
"Only one highway suspended the toll hike for Classes 1 and 5 vehicles; one highway suspended the hike for Class 5 vehicles; and one highway suspended it for Classes 2,3,4 and 5 vehicles only," he said.
Class 1 is identified as vehicles with two axles and three or four wheels excluding taxis; Class 2 vehicles with two axles and five or six wheels excluding buses; Class 3 vehicle with three or more axles, Class 4 taxis and Class 5 buses.
Due to the extensions of the toll hikes, Fadillah estimated that the government would bear RM2.25 billion while negotiations to restructure the toll rates with concessionaires was still ongoing.
He said the government has agreed to finalise the toll restructuring before 2023.
"The estimated compensation is based on the calculation formula stipulated in the concession agreement.
"And the actual amount of toll compensation payment will be determined after the traffic verification process is done by the Malaysian Highway Authority." he said.