SUDDENLY the public is faced with an increase in intra-city highway toll rates. Given two days grace ” the new rates are effective from tomorrow ” regular users of the affected roads will have to bear increases ranging from 80 sen to RM2.30. When this involves commuting to work, then the extra money needed will range from RM1.60 to RM4.60 daily. It does not take a rocket scientist to crunch the numbers and come up with quite an outrageous sum at a time when prices are going up without respite. Only recently, the price of petrol went up by 10 sen per litre. For those lucky enough to have a public transport route that serves their convenience, by months end, they can expect the light rail transit (LRT) fares to go up. Of course, this toll hike is part and parcel of the governments ongoing subsidy rationalisation.
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