The Works Ministry is now testing the open toll payment system on six lanes at the Putrajaya Toll Plaza.
The Putrajaya Toll Plaza is located on the Maju Expressway Highway (MEX), and the open toll payment system will allow highway users to pay their tolls using their credit and debit cards, starting today (August 3rd).
Speaking at a press conference after monitoring the system testing at the toll plaza, Works Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said that the test of the open toll payment system is in line with the Works Ministry’s (KKR) initiative to implement the open toll payment system in stages on 12 selected highways.
“The system allows motorists to pay using a debit or credit card, at the same time providing new alternatives and convenience to motorists in the toll payment process, apart from existing methods, such as Touch ‘n Go, SmartTag and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),” he said.
According to the Works Minister, the open toll payment system will be implemented in 12 highways, which is:
- MEX; Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE)
- Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme (SPRINT) Expressway
- Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS):
- Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP)
- SMART Tunnel; Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE)
- Penang Bridge (JPP)
- Besi Expressway (BESRAYA)New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
- Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Expressway (AKLEH)
- Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)
And when the system is fully implemented, it will cover 31 toll plazas and 81 lanes, continued the Works Minister.
The Works Minister also added that Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd (MESB), the MEX Expressway concession company, will be one of the earliest highways to implement the open toll system.
“The Works Ministry has always been informed about the level of readiness and progress of testing, which is now being carried out in stages by LLM together with the highway concessionaires.
“The implementation of the open toll system should be carried out carefully and in detail, taking into account various processes involved, such as technical aspects, security, legislation and the handling of the toll transaction record itself, to ensure that the comfort and safety of highway users is always prioritised,” he said.
The initiative is expected to be very popular among the public. Malaysians have been vocal about the current payment system’s shortcomings.
The current payment system is being managed by Touch ‘n Go. Some of their recent implementations have not been too popular with the public.
Early last year, the Works Minister at that time, Datuk Fadillah Yusof had called for Touch ‘n Go to sort out the mess that happens frequently at the toll booths.
