Motorists using the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) and Maju Expressway (MEX) on August 31 will enjoy toll-free travel on the day, The Sun reports. Motorists will be able to drive through the toll plazas on these two highways without having to pay throughout Merdeka Day, beginning from 12 am on August 31, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
The decision by both highway operators, Lingkaran Trans Kota (Litrak) and Maju Expressway to dispense with toll collection for the day is in the spirit of Merdeka, he said. When asked by reporters if other highway concessionaires in the country would do the same, Fadillah said that “it’s a possibility, but we’ll see if other operators will announce it.”
According to Malaysian Association of Highway Concession Companies (PSKLM) deputy president Sazally Saidi, some highway operators are mulling on giving toll-free access to road users this Merdeka. “There have been discussions among the highway operators but so far only two operators are offering. It is up to respective concessionaires to decide,” he said.
He added that Sprint Expressway users will enjoy a 20 sen discount on Merdeka Day at the Damansara Link, Kerinchi Link and Penchala Link toll plazas.
There should be free tolls everyday. Malaysia is the ONLY country in the world where 1KM of highway can cost nearly RM100 million in cost (without land and house acquisition). And this is despite using 100% cheap Bangladeshi labour.
The toll operators cry to the Government about the high cost of making per km of highway and in return, they are allowed to charge skyrocket prices and given 40 to 50 years contract to collect more money with every few years increasing toll rates.
No where in the world, even in expensive Western countries where labour is pricey can cost this much. Even in the UK, per KM is not even a few hundred thousand pounds in cost.
We should get free usage instead of feeding fat UMNO cronies, who are mainly the toll concessionaires
2.6 Billion free RM1 rides. With RM2.6 billion, everyone can be given free RM1 toll vouchers.
Whilst people steal RM2.6 billion, we now suffer with toll rates. One day free makes no difference when people are stealing billions.
Don’t forget, this is when the tupai got caught. What about the times the tupai was happily jumping the past 10 years? The tupai would have collected much much more than RM2.6 billion.
Now, we Malaysians suffer with toll because everyone is now stealing. Taib of Sarawak alone has US$20 billion wealth (RM80 billion). The don’t penalise him, they reward him with governorship and even make him a Tun while we all suffer with high rates
With Rm80 Billion, we all can have free toll for the next 100 years.
Hopefull we hav a new G by then… Top to bottom…
Yeah no tolls but the whole city will be on lockdown by the govt to stop people from protesting.