THE cabinet has given the Works Ministry until May to come up with a plan to reduce toll charges, said Baru Bian.

The works minister said an independent audit consultant will be appointed early next month to prepare the analytical data for the proposal.

“The analysis will include short, medium and long-term recommendations on how to reduce the toll charges.

“The study will be presented to the cabinet by May 2019,” he said in a statement, today.

Yesterday Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced toll rates would not be raised next year and motorcyclists need no longer pay toll on three highways starting January 1.

Lim said that the toll rates would be unchanged applied to all vehicle classes in 21 highways nationwide, including to buses in eight highways.

The government was supposed to revised the toll rates higher in 2019.

The federal government will also stop charging motorcycles toll at the Penang Bridge and Johor’s second link highway from January 1.
 
The decision made on December 12 will cost the government an estimated RM994.43 million in toll revenue.

“The postponement of raising the toll rates is seen as a way by the federal government to mitigate the rising cost of living,” Baru said.

In October, Baru had said that the federal government remains was committed to do away with toll as promised in its manifesto but could not do so due to its poor financial position. – December 28, 2018.