The toll rates along the North-South Expressway have already been increased. The public has been told that the new, current rate is 13.6 sen (a 10 percent increase from the previous 12.36 sen) per kilometre based on the highway's 'closed system".

This is misleading. In reality, motorists travelling along the southern stretch of the highway having been paying much more than even the stipulated old rate of 12.36 sen. And they will certainly be paying much more than the new stipulated rate of 13.6 sen.

Rates for northern stretch, in contrast, do keep in general to the old rate of 12.36 sen per kilometre.

The question is this: why are motorists charged more for the using the NSE's southern stretch?

One classic example is the journey form the Sg Besi toll plaza to Kajang (one of the most heavily used stretches) for which Class 1 motorists are charged RM1.70 for a distance of only 7.6km.

This works out to 22 sen per kilometre. The following chart, based on Class 1 rates, will confirm this. Perhaps the works minister or Plus could clarify this matter.