Temerloh, Dec 20 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Friday increases in highway toll rates and electricity tariffs were inevitable to maintain economic stability, but the government would do everything possible to minimise their impact on the people.
“Do not think that the government is insensitive to the people’s needs. It is difficult not to allow these rises (in toll rates and power tariffs) as, otherwise, the national economy will suffer and the people will have to bear more hardship,” he said.
The government was always looking for ways to reduce the impact of higher toll rates and electricity tariffs on the people, he said at the presentation of federal aid to flood victims and recognition of the services of flood relief volunteers at the Abu Bakar Mosque, here.
Najib said the government continued to provide subsidy to the tune of RM42 billion annually, an amount almost as high as the RM49 billion allocation for development.
He said that a mechanism would be worked out to reduce the burden of the higher toll rates on the people, for example by introducing peak-hour rates or season pass at reduced rates.
“We are considering all these,” he said, adding that toll rates had to be raised in stages as it was necessary to maintain the country’s highways that were of a standard similar to those in developed nations.
– Bernama
