The government will not compensate in cash, toll concessionaire Plus Malaysia Bhd, for abolishing four of its toll booths as announced in Budget 2018, said Johari Abdul Ghani.

The government will instead look to extend the concession tenure of other tolls operated by the company, the second finance minister told reporters at the Parliament lobby after the budget presentation today.

"We don't pay cash compensation, we are trying to extend the tenure of existing tolls that are currently still operated (by the concessionaire)."

Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that the government will abolish four toll booths effectively next year.

They are Batu Tiga toll and Sungai Rasau toll at the Federal Highway in Selangor; Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah; and the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) in Johor.

Plus was reportedly interested in acquiring the EDL last year.

Johari, however, stopped short of saying which tolls under the concessionaire will be affected.

When asked for how long the concession of the other tolls will be extended, Johari replied: "We will work out something."

Khazanah Nasional Bhd-owned UEM controls 51 percent of PLUS Berhad, while 49 percent of its stake is owned by the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF).

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