KUALA LUMPUR (The Star/Asia News Network) - Malaysia has given the green light for 11 private highways in and around capital Kuala Lumpur to raise their toll rates from Oct 15, amid concerns over rising inflation.

The highways will hike their toll rates by between 20 sen to RM3 (S$0.07 and S$1.01) .

Malaysians have been worried about higher inflation this year caused by the implementation of the 6 per cent goods and services tax from last year, and by the 20 per cent drop of the ringgit against the US dollar this year that has spiked imported inflation.

Meanwhile PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) said toll rates on all highways it operates will remain unchanged.

The highways include the North-South Expressway (NSE), the North-South Expressway Central Link (NSECL), and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing (MSSC).