Several highway concessionaires are now reported to have started developing their own barrier-free toll system, led by PLUS Expressways Berhad. This move is seen as an effort to prevent misuse and profit exploitation during its implementation.
According to a report by TheEdge, PLUS is said to want to start pilot testing for their own barrier-free toll system by April. At present, the final system that will be used is still unknown. However, for PLUS, they have the advantage through their subsidiary, Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd which currently provides an electronic toll collection system for most highway concessionaires.
At the same time, this concessionaire also plans to link their system with the Road Transport Department in the future, so if a driver has unpaid tolls, they will have to resolve them first before being able to renew their road tax.
Also for your information, Touch n Go Ewallet itself has begun testing a new feature, allowing users to go through tolls even with a low balance – and must settle the pending payment within 24 hours afterwards, with a limit of up to RM80 per day.
The government previously targeted the implementation of barrier-free toll roads starting in 2025. However, with these various recent developments, it is unknown whether we will see it officially implemented this year, or whether it will be delayed.