(June 30): Most of the toll concessionaires are not making profits since their operations, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Rosnah Rashid Shirlin said today, adding that it can only be achieved once the concession period has matured.

She said, as of June 30 this year, there are about 30 highways nationwide being operated and managed by 23 concessionaires.

“Most of them or almost 90% of toll revenue collected by concessionaires will be used to pay off loans to financial institution, operation and maintenance of highways.”

“Only the remaining 10% will be acquired by the shareholders of the concessions involved,” she said in Dewan Negara today in a reply to Datuk Jaspal Singh.

Rosnah said RM5.4 billion was collected in toll collection for 2013 and RM5.425 billion in 2014.

Jaspal, in his question, asked on the statistics of tolled roads throughout the country.

On June 26, Malaysian Highway Concessionaires Company Association (PSKLM) said they were prepared to discuss with the government over toll hikes at several highways in the country.

Its president, Datuk Zainudin A. Kadir said the need to increase toll rates exists not only because it is as stipulated in the Concession Agreement, but also to provide safe and comfortable facilities to motorists. – The Malaysian Insider