Controversial toll hikes: what's in it for builder MRCB?

WILL higher toll rates related to the Eastern Dispersal Link expressway (EDL) in Johor be channelled to concessionaire Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) or will the Malaysian government continue to pay the company compensation?

Beginning this month, motorists entering and exiting Johor through the customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex will have to fork out 300 to 500 plus per cent more in toll; the new levies were introduced to maintain the 8.6 km elevated EDL and to help fund its RM1.4 billion (S$545 million) construction costs, according to the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA).

However, in a company update report yesterday, Affin Investment Research observed that "it was not clear at this stage if the toll hike . . . will accrue to MRCB or if the compensation of almost RM12 million/month will continue to be paid by the government."