A TOTAL of 12 highway concessionaires have agreed to implement an open toll payment system that will begin in September, Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said.

He said it would involve the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersion Scheme Expressway (SPRINT), Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), SMART tunnel, and Maju Expressway (MEX).

The open toll payment system will also be implemented at the Sungai Besi Expressway, New Pantai Expressway (NPE); Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), Guthrie Corridor Highway, Penang Bridge, and Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE).

“So far, these are the highway concessionaires that have agreed to carry out the open payment system, negotiation is still underway with the others and we hope more will come forward to participate,” he said after visiting the Traffic Monitoring Centre at Menara Korporat, Persada PLUS in Subang today.

Nanta said discussions with the highway concessionaires took a long time because it was important to examine the security risks that would be incurred by credit or debit card users for toll payment.

“We want to make sure that security issues do not occur, so we cannot rush the implementation,” he said.

The open toll payment system is a government initiative to provide alternative payment options for highway users, apart from paying in cash, using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Touch ’n Go cards and SmartTag.

On efforts to upgrade the routes of several highways, Nanta said works were being carried out, including the widening of the Pasir Gudang and Sedenak highway routes in Johor, involving an allocation of RM525 million under Budget 2023.

“Preliminary works have been done and we leave it to PLUS to implement it fully,” he added. – Bernama, May 10, 2023.