KUALA LUMPUR: The longstanding issue of traffic congestion at toll booths on highways may be resolved soon.
A plan to allow highway concessionaires to implement their own Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) toll system could significantly reduce this problem.
This is one of the solutions the government is considering to resolve the deadlock in the project's implementation since its introduction in 2021.
The MLFF system aims to replace traditional toll booths with gantries and automated payment mechanisms, similar to Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing system, to allow vehicles to pass through toll points without needing to stop or slow down.
However, its implementation had encountered roadblocks.
In December last year, 32 highway concessionaires protested the move to directly award the RM3.46 billion project to a private company.
They claimed that the government was awarding the project without consulting the concessionaires, which will be footing the bill for its implementation.
This led to the Public Accounts Committee launching proceedings into the project in February.
Sources familiar with the matter told the New Sunday Times that one of the possible solutions would be to allow each concessionaire to implement its own MLFF system, which would benefit and appease all quarters.
"Some highway concessionaires, for example, have already expressed readiness to implement the MLFF system on their own," said one source.
Last December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would re-look the awarding of the MLFF contract to ensure that it was transparent and in accordance with procedure.
Last month, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the issue stemmed from overlapping concessionaires.
He said PLUS Malaysia, which manages more than 1,000km of highways, objected to the plan as it believed it could implement the MLFF independently.
He said the government would decide on the implementation of the MLFF system by tomorrow.
The push for the MLFF system comes as motorists continue to struggle with outdated and inefficient toll payment systems that often lead to traffic jams and delays.
Despite the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in 2018, touted as a solution to congestion at toll plazas, the adoption has been low, accounting for less than 20 per cent of toll transactions.
The system's limitations have contributed to widespread dissatisfaction among motorists, many of whom have continued to rely on cards for toll payments.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi acknowledged that there were "technical and operational issues" in the implementation of the RFID toll collection system and vowed to address them with the Malaysian Highway Authority and concessionaires.
"Several technical and operational issues have been identified in the implementation of RFID toll collection," he said, adding that RFID only accounted for 18.55 per cent of all toll transactions nationwide.
He said the MLFF system could significantly reduce traffic congestion, streamline toll payments and improve the overall driving experience on highways.
"With the MLFF system, users will no longer need to stop or slow down to pay tolls, improving the smoothness of transactions and journeys on highways."
Despite the challenges, consumer groups believe the project was crucial to resolving the critical issue of congestion and modernising highways.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations chief executive officer T. Saravanan said failure to reach an agreement on the MLFF system would be a significant setback for consumers who want an efficient and convenient toll payment system.
"It is vital for all parties to prioritise public interest and reach a resolution that ensures the timely rollout of the MLFF system."
Malaysia Consumers Movement secretary-general Herby Dhillon said a stall in implementing the MLFF system would entail consumers continuing to bear the brunt of inefficiencies in the current toll payment system.
"Consumers deserve a modern, reliable infrastructure that prioritises their time and convenience."