KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to issue a request for proposal (RFP) as a contingency for implementing the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan informed the Dewan Rakyat that this step aims to potentially reduce the project's costs, which have been discussed since the project was initially proposed and approved by the previous government in 2021.
"We are giving until December for (the companies involved in) the MLFF proposal project," Ahmad Maslan said.
"At the same time, we have announced that we will issue an RFP as a 'plan B' so the MLFF's cost may be reduced."
He made these remarks in response to a supplementary question from Roslan Hashim (Perikatan Nasional-Kulim Bandar Baru), seeking updates on the status of the MLFF project.
Last week, it was reported that negotiations for the MLFF system are ongoing, with several stages yet to be finalised before a decision is reached.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi had said there were still issues that needed to be ironed out.
Previously, an online portal had reported that 32 highway concessionaires had protested against the move by the government to directly award the MLFF project to a private company.