IT was a simple enough a question but one that resonated deeply with West Malaysians who have had to live with the cost of highway tolls for decades.

Posted on the Meanwhile in Malaysia Facebook forum, it elicited a lot of comments with netizens debating the pros and cons of having tooled roads.

Here is a small sample of what is being said.

One netizen argued that toll collection allowed for better maintenance and thus better-quality roads which was met with a few responses.

Few others did also point out the difference in quality between tolled and non-toll roads.

One netizen said tolls should not be under the purview of private organisations as the roads are necessity for the rakyat.

Some simply said the highways in Sabah and Sarawak were built to improve the economy.

One netizen pointed out the merits of a toll system while another highlighted how vehicles in Sabah and Sarawak are being made to pay the price of non-tolled roads.

Some netizens pointed out that the toll had been paid in the form of natural resources.

One netizen pointed out the political reality of the situation.

More than one though seems to suggest that a toll system was preferable to having poor quality roads, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

Some netizens ominously stated that tolls were a matter of time.

One netizen argued that tolled highways was a good move as it led to a lot of economic benefits.

The varied comments highlight how divisive this topic of tolled highways can be. There will be those in favour and many who are vehemently against the idea. And there will be those who expect the best without having to pay. - March 1, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/simple-enquiry-about-different-toll-collections-in-peninsular-borneo-elicits-plenty-of-responses/