The government is studying new highway toll rates to ensure they do not give unreasonable profits to concession companies and burden the people.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government was also looking at ways to reduce the burden of the people, including discount season pass for frequent users of highways.

"We do not want concessionaires to reap excessively high returns, and the government is examining that, so that the hike will not give the toll operators unreasonably high profits.

"...and we are looking at ways to help regular users, such as (with) discount season pass. These are the measures being considered," he said when opening the 60th MCA Annual General Assembly at Wisma MCA today.

He said toll collection at highways was needed as concession companies had to repay their loans used to finance the construction of existing ones.

"When the private sector builds highways, it has to borrow money. You are businessmen... can you come up with your own internal fund for RM5 million? You have to borrow, you have to go to the bond market, when you go to the bond market, you have to pay.

"Where do they (funds) come from? If there were to be no tolls, we have to raise taxes... and that is also not right...  Toll is only for those who use highways," added Najib.

- Bernama