JAKARTA (Dec 15, 2006): The toll rate hike on five highways in and around the Klang Valley from Jan 1 was approved on the basis of a shared burden, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"We (the government) have no choice but to go ahead (with the increase)but it has to be on the basis of sharing the burden," he said on Friday (Dec 15).

Najib, who is on the second day of a four-day working visit here was asked to comment on the increase that was announced by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu yesterday, which was received with resentment by the highway users.

"Important thing to understand is that to have world class infrastructure facilities, somebody has to pay for that. You cannot have quality highways but you're not willing to pay for it," Najib said.

He said the government used a considerable amount of money which would otherwise have gone for development to keep toll rates at the announced level.

Otherwise, the toll rates increase could have been higher. For example, the Damansara-Puchong Highway toll rate would have been RM2.10 instead RM1.60 as approved.

Najib said the government earlier kept the toll rate at RM1 for much longer in 1999, again through subsidy.

The toll rates would be raised between 30 sen and RM1, starting Jan 1 next year at the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang, Lebuhraya KL-Karak and Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie.

The new toll rates for LDP will be RM1.60, an increase of 60 sen, Lebuhraya Shah Alam -- RM2.20 (up 70 sen), Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang -- RM1 (Batu 9) and 90 sen (Batu 11) (both 30 sen more), Lebuhraya KL-Karak -- RM5 (Gombak) (RM1 higher) and RM3 (Bentong) (50 sen more) and Lebuhraya KoridorGuthrie -- RM1.40 (up 40 sen). These rates are for cars classified as Class1.