“Sungai Besar voters can play an important role in shaping the debate on unjustifiable and unfair toll hikes.”

The fact that BN can consider increasing toll rates for eight highways this year and four more next year even before polling day for the two by-elections on June 18, shows that BN will sacrifice the many for the sake of a few cronies, charged Guan Eng, who is also Bagan MP and Penang Chief Minister.

“BN is so confident of victory in the two by-elections following the enhanced strength of Umno given their political co-operation with PAS and the support of the latter’s 14 MPs.”

The eight highways likely to face increased toll rates: North-South Expressway, Linkedua, Kesas, Elite, LDP, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH), and New North Klang Straits Bypass Expressway (NNKSB).

The DAP chief was expressing disappointment with the refusal of Works Minister Fadillah Yusof to openly state that toll rates for the eight highways would not be increased this year, with four more scheduled to be increased next year. The tolls would be increased next year for GCE (Guthrie Corridor Expressway), LEKAS (Lebuhraya Kajang Seremban), SDE (Senai Desaru Expressway) and EDL (Eastern Dispersal Link).

Last year, Guan Eng said, a total of eighteen highways across Malaysia saw toll rate hikes, all on one day, October 15. These included AKLEH, Besraya, DUKE, Grand Saga, Guthrie Corridor Expressway, Kajang SILK, Karak, LATAR, LEKAS, LKSA, MEX, NPE, SMART tunnel, Senai-Desaru Expressway, SKVE, Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), Sprint Expressway and the LDP.

In fact, he alleged, the toll for the North-South Highway should have been abolished since the concession holder had already got back all his investment cost in building and maintaining the highway. “This is the difference between BN and Pakatan (Harapan),” he stressed. “BN wants to maintain and even hike up toll rates, whereas Pakatan wants to abolish the North-South Highway toll.”