PETALING JAYA: Motorists will be spared from paying higher toll rates for 10 highways this year, following a government’s decision to postpone the move.
Among the highways are Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE), East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB) and KL-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, according to an agreement with highway operators, the toll rates are supposed to increase this year.
“These are old agreements between the companies and the previous governments. To facilitate this, the government will bear the cost of more than RM500mil,” said Anwar in a special announcement aired live on his social media platforms yesterday.
On the recent restructuring of electricity tariffs effective July 1, Anwar said despite the move, over 85% of domestic users would see a reduction in their bills from this month.
“Although the restructured electricity tariff began in July, the people’s electricity bill has not increased,” he said.
Some users, he said, saw up to a 14% reduction.
“This is unlike the slander that was spread. When the tariff increases, the cost would reduce; hence, the bill would be lower. Check your electricity bills,” he explained.
Anwar also said everyone could enjoy a long weekend to celebrate Malaysia Day this year while declaring Sept 15 an additional public holiday.
The long weekend would be from Saturday (Sept 13) up to Malaysia Day on Tuesday (Sept 16). The public holiday, he said, would enable Malaysians to enjoy the long break with their family or take a much-needed vacation.
“This public holiday is intended to recognise the unity and significance of Malaysia’s formation.
“This will also encourage people to strengthen family bonds by visiting their hometowns or vacationing locally,” he said.
Explaining the current economic situation of the country, Anwar, who is Finance Minister, said the nation’s economy remained on a strong footing, supported by consistent growth, record investments and a strengthening ringgit.
He said the country posted a 4.4% gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of this year, with the second quarter expected to reach 4.5%.
Malaysia also jumped 11 places to 23rd in the 2025 World Competitiveness Index, while approved investments hit an all-time high of RM384bil last year, up 17% from 2023.
He added the ringgit’s more than 5% gain against the US dollar this year, reaching RM4.23 and becoming one of Asia’s top-performing currencies, has allowed the government to enhance living standards.
He also said the unemployment rate dropped to 3% in May, the lowest in over a decade, while over 250,000 jobs were created between 2023 and 2024.
Minimum wage was also raised to RM1,700 effective Feb 1 and fully implemented on Aug 1, he said, adding that 153,000 workers under government-linked companies now earned a living wage of RM3,100 monthly.
