I concur with the sentiments of your 'Letter to the Editor' writers who say that the government is insensitive to the plight of the common people in announcing that toll rates will be increased comes January next year.

For the Works Minister S Samy Vellu to say that the government cannot afford to continue compensating the highway concessionaires is downright 'bodoh' (with due respect to the Australian writer).

Why did the government sign a one-sided agreements with these toll collectors in the first place which promises them a 'win-win' situation. These concessionaires collect toll when traffic volume is good and get government compensation when the volume drops.

One would expect that the annual increase in traffic would defray the cost for those running these highways making it unnecessary for them to increase their tolls at the expense of the poor public who are forced to use their roads.

On top of this, the quality of our highways leave much to be desired with uneven roads, flooding, landslides and massive jams during the festive seasons. The toll rates we pay are not compensated by the service provided.

One doesn't have to be an economics professor to know that prices of goods and services will increase with a toll hike which in turn will fuel inflation leading to the people's purchasing power being drastically reduced.

Times like these makes one nostalgic for Dr Mahathir Mohamad who although had his weaknesses, still managed to tame inflation. The prices of goods and charges for transport didn't rise suddenly.

Maybe the present leaders whose salary and expenses are paid for by the public do not know how the poor public are suffering right now due to various price increases. I wonder how with all the scandal and misdeeds, they going to face the electorate comes the next polls.

We may in the next polls elect a more friendly government which fully practices accountability and transparency and which will not use their powerful political positions to enrich themselves and their cronies. Enough is enough.