THE Bentong Municipal Council has issued a stop work order against the construction of a toll gantry near Gohtong Jaya, the main gateway to the popular hilltop resort Genting Highlands, said Bentong member of parliament Young Syefura Othman.

She said that the stop work order was in place until proper applications are made to the local council and the state government.

Her statement today confirmed a media report yesterday that the work to build a toll gantry has been stopped as the developer had not complied with or sought the approval from the local authorities before work began at the site.

A state government official was also reported as saying that no proposal had been submitted to introduce a one-way trip toll charge for Genting Highlands-bound holidaymakers.

It was learnt that although the proposed toll is built on private land, the Finance Ministry and Transport Ministry had to be consulted on toll collection.

Previously, Chinese media reported that motorists travelling to Genting Highlands would soon have to pay toll charges and that Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd, which is in charge of maintaining the roadworks in Genting, would manage the toll’s operations.

Young Syefura also said she had received confirmation on October 13 that the construction of a toll gantry in the area did not involve the Highways Authority of Malaysia (LLM) and the Works Ministry.

“For your information, Genting Highlands is private land. For a long time, the road to Genting Highlands has been managed by Genting Highlands itself. 

“However, any development on private land should obtain permission from the local authority. 

“Bentong Municipal Council and the Pahang state government have not received any applications related to the construction of this toll plaza,” she said. – October 21, 2023.