UPDATE3 Malaysia hikes toll rates by as much as 33% on five major highways

Malaysia will hike toll rates by as much as 33 percent on five of its major highways this Sunday, in a move that is likely to be sharply condemned by consumer groups and commuters.

Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed said the government paid RM245 million in compensation to concessionaires to waive the toll hike for last year.

“The increase should not be seen as burdening the people because the quality of the highways will be ensured,” he said in an attempt to deflect the wave of criticism.

Nevertheless, the steep rises are unlikely to sit well with Malaysians, who have become increasingly unhappy with the way the government has been negotiating multi-billion ringgit privatisation deals that favoured corporate bigwigs rather than the man in the street.

“I am appalled by the move. It negates all the fuel price reductions and comes at a time when the people are only starting to feel the economic pain …

“It will be a huge burden to commuters and to businesses as well because transportation costs will rise. We cannot discount a cost-transfer and knock-on negative effect to the rest of the economy …

--SuaraKeadilan