Highway operators to negotiate terms with gateless toll providers at no cost to govt, says Ahmad Maslan

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of gateless toll gantries will be done via business-to-business deals among highway concessionaires without financial implications to the government, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

The Deputy Works Minister said that a total of 33 tolled highway operators will be discussing with their preferred multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) provider companies within the next two years.

“The government has decided that the implementation of MLFF will be business-to-business. Without a single sen of financial implications to the government,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Aug 6).

He was responding to Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir’s (PN-Setiu) request for the ministry to state the implementation status of MLFF and the financial implications to the government.

In a supplementary question, Shaharizukirnain also highlighted the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendations, saying that the implementation of MLFF would cost RM3.46bil.

Ahmad reaffirmed that there will be no cost for the government.

He also said that a Cabinet paper was presented in July to determine the direction of MLFF implementation.

“The ministry remains committed to implementing toll collection via MLFF to prioritise comfort and convenience for road users.

“Therefore, the ministry presented a Cabinet paper on July 25 to establish a new direction regarding the implementation method of MLFF.

“The direction now opens opportunities for relevant service provider companies to directly negotiate and deal with the 33 existing toll highway concession companies on a B2B basis to facilitate the implementation of MLFF,” he said.

Ahmad also said that a highway concession has implemented a pilot test of MLFF with the collaboration of private companies.

Responding to a question by Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis), who had asked about the actions to be taken against toll evaders when MLFF is implemented, Ahmad said that the system will be equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

The ANPR, he said, would allow the authorities to trace road users who evaded paying tolls.

“Notices would also be issued to toll-evaders, and they might not be allowed to renew their road tax,” he added.

On the issues of RFID lanes, he said that the ministry, via the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) continuously monitors the performance of the system by ensuring that highway operators are constantly doing fine-tuning.

Ahmad also said that the government has introduced an open payment toll collection system to provide more convenience for road users.