KUALA LUMPUR: Highway users were given a close of good and bad news after the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Toll on four major highways, including the North-South Expressway, will not go up next year. However, five others will see increases of between 7% and 50% as agreed in concession agreements, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced.

The others spared an increase are Ampang-Hulu Klang elevated highway (Prolintas), Sprint Highway and Penang Bride.

Highways where toll charges will go up are Seremban-Port Dickson, North-South Expressway Central link, Kulim-Butterworth, Malaysia-Singapore Second Link and New North Klang Bypass.Also affected are the Causeway and Bukit kayu Hitam Toll Plaza.

Samy Vellu said to maintain toll at the four highways next year, the government has to pay RM242 million in compensation to the concessionaires.

He said the government also needs to pay RM75 million for next year to the Damansara Puchong Highway (LDP) concessionaire for maintaining toll at RM1.60 instead of RM2.10 per the concession agreement.

"We also pay compensation of RM27 million for not increasing the toll on the New North Klang Straits Bypass between 2005 and 2007," he said.

He estimated the total compensation for not increasing the toll next year at RM344 million.

Samy Vellu said toll increase was allowed for highways which had fewer users. Asked if the decision was because of the coming general election, he quipped:"If it is because of the election, then toll should be free of charge."

On another matter, Samy Vellu, who is MIC president, was upset that his telephone number and that of the party?s three vice-presidents had been given out and that as a result, he received 245 calls on Tuesday and 160 yesterday.