Car owners say the proposed toll hike will hit them in the pocket.

PETALING JAYA, Dec 16 — Road users will feel the pinch if toll rates are increased next year as proposed.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar had said during the weekend a toll rate hike was “unavoidable”, as it was an express condition in the concession agreement between the government and the highway concession companies.

Kathleen Gillian, 22, a freelance writer who drives daily from Subang to Mid Valley, said she was “disappointed” as she had just bought her car a month ago.

“I did not budget for such a hike. I take the NPE to work and the toll costs RM1.60. Going back, I go through two tolls, which adds up to RM2.60,” she said.

Kathleen said the increase would affect her financially as she also spent RM260 a month on petrol.

Michael Edward, 30, who started working in real estate sales and valuation two months ago, lives in Klang and works in Petaling Jaya.

“I take the Kesas Highway to work, which costs me RM2. Coming back, I take the Federal Highway and go through two tolls, for which I pay RM1 and RM1.10,” he said.

“I also work on Saturdays so altogether, I spend RM24 a week on toll fees alone.

“Petrol prices are more of a concern for me, as I spend at least RM50 on petrol every two days.

“Furthermore, the Federal Highway was built long ago. Tyhe concessionaires should have recouped a major portion of their costs, so the toll should be going down, not up, and eventually abolished.”

Siti Noor Arfa, 25, drives from Puchong to Pudu daily.

“If I am on the 9am shift, I take both the Kesas Highway and the MEX Highway to work, and both toll fees are RM2,” she said.

“I prefer taking the LDP, as the toll fee is RM1.60, and it goes through the Federal Highway, although it is often jammed.”

She works 20 days a month and spends about RM300 on petrol.

“I have been working for a year now. Prices are rising for everything but not salaries,” she said.