{"id":21018,"date":"2015-12-28T16:28:02","date_gmt":"2015-12-28T08:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=21018"},"modified":"2015-12-28T16:28:02","modified_gmt":"2015-12-28T08:28:02","slug":"price-hikes-we-dread-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/price-hikes-we-dread-in-2016","title":{"rendered":"Price Hikes We Dread In 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

The year 2015 was certainly not an easy one for Malaysians, from having to adjust to fuel subsidy removals starting December 2014, to having to cope with price hikes that came with the implementation of the 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in April, to having to weather the weakening Ringgit, which hit a 17-year-low against the US dollar (at 4.40) in September due to falling crude oil prices.<\/p>\n

To top it up, tolls at highways operated by 11 concessionaires were also raised by between 20 sen and RM3 in October.<\/p>\n

Will the upcoming year spell better news for our wallets? We are not counting on it. In fact, there will be further all-round price increments that we are totally not looking forward to. What are they? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n

<\/span>More expensive trips via KLIA Express<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret by now, that your journey to KLIA and KLIA 2 via the KLIA Ekspres will cost RM55 starting January 1<\/a> \u2013 that\u2019s a staggering 57% increase from the existing RM35 rate!<\/p>\n

Rail operator Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) defended the rate increase by saying that the rate has not been revised since 2002, and the increased fare is already a discounted version of the original approved new fare of RM64.<\/p>\n

The fare increments was according to the concession agreement, which allowed the company to increase the price up to RM64, and has been approved by the government.<\/p>\n

<\/span>More toll hikes (possibly)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, eight highways are entitled to increase toll rates in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not deciding on whether there will be an increase or not. Those entitled to receive hikes for 2016 are eight highways,\u201d Datuk Fadillah told Parliament in November.<\/p>\n

The highways with their respective entitled compensations are:<\/p>\n