Malaysians seem to be faced with an ever increasing highway toll charges because the government which was elected for a five-year term previously had given a promise on behalf of the citizens that the highway concessionaire could increase the toll rate periodically during the period of its contract with the government.

This rate of increase it is always low during the initial years and the citizens accept it easily. It is only later that the people feel the brunt when the toll rate get higher and higher.

Is it fair for a government that is elected to a five-year term to agree on toll rate increases for periods beyond its tenure? It may be acceptable if the rates are fixed or if the future governments have the option to first study any request for an increase.

Now it looks as though Project Lebuhraya Utara Selatan is trying to enforce its contractual rate and the government is trying to negotiate on behalf of the people who are generally unhappy with the proposed increase.

This problem has come about due to the short-sighted decisions of the previous administration which came from the same coalition that is in power now.

We must learn from this experience. No government should be allowed to agree in advance to increases in rates to be borne by consumers beyond its term of office.

It is not morally acceptable for a government to do so.