Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar voters to protest toll rates hike by denying BN victory in the June 18 twin by-elections.

"The fact that BN can consider increasing toll rates of eight highways this year and four more next year even before polling day for the two by-elections, shows how BN will sacrifice many at the expense of the few cronies," Lim said in a statement today.

"Clearly, BN is so confident of victory in the two by-elections, following the enhanced strength of Umno after its co-operation with PAS and the support of PAS’ 14 MPs.

"If the people do not want toll hikes, then they should send a strong message by rejecting BN in the two by-elections," he added.

The DAP secretary-general said the difference between BN and Pakatan Harapan was that BN wanted to maintain and even increase toll rates, whereas Pakatan Harapan wanted to abolish the North-South Expressway toll.

He noted that seven of the 12 highways due for toll hikes were in Selangor.

"This is why the Sungai Besar voters can play an important role in shaping the debate on unjustifiable and unfair toll hikes.

"In fact, the toll for the North-South Expressway should be abolished since the concession holder has already got back all his investment cost in building and maintaining the highway," Lim added.

Meanwhile, Lim expressed disappointment at Works Minister Fadillah Yusof’s refusal to openly state whether the toll rates of eight highways would be increased this year, and four more scheduled to be increased next year.

The eight highways are North-South Expressway, Linkedua, Kesas, Elite, LDP, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE), Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH), and New North Klang Straits Bypass Expressway (NNKSB).

RM1 billion in compensation

Lim expressed concern that the government would need to fork out at least RM1 billion in compensation to toll concessionaires if the toll rates were not increased later this year.

He pointed out that this was higher than the RM500 million set aside earlier.

He noted that Fadillah said from 2008 to 2014, the government paid more than RM2.2 billion in compensation to the concessionaires in exchange for not increasing toll rates.

Compensation received by the toll concessionaires included RM214 million for the North-South Expressway, RM8.24 million for the Second Link Expressway and RM79.44 million for the Elite Highway, RM3.11 million for the Butterworth Kulim Expressway, RM1.95 million for the Seremban Port Dickson Highway, RM92.8 million for the Kesas Highway, RM7.8 million for the North Klang Straits Bypass and RM185.9 million for the LDP.

This amounted to RM597.24 million, which exceeded the amount set aside by the government for compensating toll concessionaires.

"Worse, there are four more highways where toll is to be increased next year, namely GCE (Guthrie Corridor Expressway), Lekas (Lebuhraya Kajang Seremban), SDE (Senai Desaru Expressway) and EDL (Eastern Dispersal Link)," Lim said.

"Last year, a total of 18 highways across Malaysia saw toll rate hikes, all on one day, Oct 15," he added.

These include Akleh, Besraya, DUKE, Grand Saga, Guthrie Corridor Expressway, Kajang Silk, Karak, Latar, Lekas, LKSA, MEX, NPE, Smart tunnel, Senai-Desaru Expressway, SKVE, Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), Sprint Expressway and the LDP.