KUALA LUMPUR (July 23): The Ministry of Finance will bear over RM500 million in compensation to the highway concessionaires to maintain current toll rates at 10 major expressways this year, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The highways are:
- Cheras–Kajang Highway (GRANDSAGA);
- Kuala Lumpur–Kuala Selangor Highway (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);
- Kuala Lumpur–Putrajaya Expressway (MEX); and
- Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB).
The toll hike freeze was one of the initiatives announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday, as part of what he described as appreciation for Malaysians.
Public-listed firms related to the highways involved include Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:BPURI), which operates LATAR; Taliworks Corp Bhd (KL:TALIWRK), which operates GRANDSAGA and NNKSB; and Ekovest Bhd (KL:EKOVEST), which operates DUKE.
Other concessionaires include Senai-Desaru Expressway Bhd (SDE), PLUS Malaysia Bhd (LPT2), SKVE Holdings Sdn Bhd (SKVE), Ministry of Finance-owned Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JSAHMS), Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd (MEX), and Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (Penang) Sdn Bhd (LLB).
In a follow-up statement, Nanta said that the compensation is to ensure that highway operations and maintenance remain uninterrupted and safe, despite the deferral of the previously scheduled toll rate increases.
“This decision was not made lightly, but with careful and responsible consideration,” Nanta said.
The minister said the toll hikes have actually been agreed upon under earlier concession agreements signed by the previous administration.
However, the Madani government opted to defer the increases, in light of “the cost of living pressures currently faced by the people”, Nanta said.
“This toll hike postponement will benefit and reduce the toll burden for approximately 941,000 users, especially daily commuters travelling from home to work,” he noted.
Nanta added that the Ministry of Works will continue working to ensure that roads and highways across the country remain safe, well-maintained and accessible to all Malaysians, regardless of background.