He said these alternatives included reducing the toll rate, imposing a flat toll rate and providing discounts during off-peak periods.

“Another (alternative) is not to increase the toll rate for a certain period. These are being discussed,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Muslimin Yahaya (PH-Sungai Besar), who wanted to know the measures taken by the government to ensure the abolishment of the toll as promised by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in its election manifesto.

However, Baru told the house that the government had, in principle, decided not to abolish the toll until the country’s financial situation was stable.

To Muslimin, who had asked on the toll rate proposed for the West Coast Expressway (WCE), stretching 233km to link Banting and Taiping, Baru said 20 toll plazas were involved.

“The closed-toll collection method will be used, where six of the plazas will be on the main lane and the other 14 at the interchanges,” he added.

He said it would involve a concession period of 50 years with WCE Sdn Bhd in an agreement signed on Jan 2, 2013.

He also said the expressway was 60% complete and expected to be opened in stages beginning next year.