KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): PLUS Malaysia Bhd has clarified that it has not stopped toll collection at its North-South highway, but it has reduced the toll charges at the Sungai Besi toll plaza by between 40 sen and RM1.70 for motorists travelling in different classes of vehicles.

“The announcement by the Government states that the toll charges at Salak Expressway and KL-Seremban expressway will be abolished. Both highways are maintained by different concessionaires, and both of them are connected to our North-South highway,” a PLUS spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified, told theedgemarkets.com in a brief telephone conversation.

“What that means is that the toll at the Sungai Besi plaza will be lowered. As far as PLUS is concerned, it will still collect the toll charges until there are further changes,” she added.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Highway Authorities (MHA) or Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia announced that the Government has abolished the toll collection for the KL-Seremban expressway and Salak Expressway today. Both highways are maintained by Anih Bhd, which was previously known as Metramac Corp Sdn Bhd.

Opened in 1995 and built at a cost of RM271 million, the 10.5 km KL-Seremban expressway stretches from Jalan Istana to the Sungai Besi toll plaza, which is owned and operated by PLUS.

On its website, Anih said the toll payment for the KL-Seremban Expressway is collected at Sungai Besi toll plaza.

“You have to remember that the KL-Seremban Expressway is not a road that links Kuala Lumpur and Seremban. It is a misnomer, as it doesn’t even take you to Seremban directly. That is why toll charges at Sungai Besi are always higher because they cover the cost of the KL-Seremban Expressway,” she added.

Following the abolishment of toll charges at KL-Seremban Expressway and Salak Expressway, MHA said the toll charges at Sungai Besi toll will drop between 1% and 50%, equivalent to between 40 sen and RM1.70, for different classes of vehicles.