Motorists are advised to use Touch ‘N Go and smart tag to smoothen traffic flow at the toll plazas during peak periods.Read the full news from Bernama below.
MOTORISTS URGED TO USE ETC CARDS.
The government is encouraging more motorists to use the electronic toll collection (ETC) system to smoothen traffic flow at the toll plazas during peak periods and festivals.
Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the use of ETC cards like the Touch ‘N Go and smart tag would also help create a cashless society.
“We hope eventually all motorists will turn to ETC cards. So far 5.9 million people are using Touch ‘N Go cards nationwide.
“Touch ‘N Go card users rose to 3.2 million in 2008 from 2.6 million in 2007,” he told reporters after launching the 1Malaysia Touch ‘N Go card limited edition here on Friday.
About 150,000 1Malaysia Touch ‘N Go cards are on sale in support of the 1Malaysia concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The cards can be purchased at selected expressway counters and Touch ‘N Go Sdn Bhd counters. Each card, which has a credit value of RM10, is sold at RM10.
Shaziman said one of the reasons why many consumers shun Touch ‘n Go cards was because they dislike the idea of having to make an upfront payment before they can use the cards.
He suggested that companies taking advantage of the ETC system to do away with the upfront payments and instead create a system where payments can be deducted from bank accounts.
On calls to highway concession holders to introduce toll discounts during festivals, he said PLUS Expressways Berhad (PLUS) had given a positive response.
“Let us wait for the announcement,” he added.
Our Prime Minister announced something interesting for road users in Malaysia on his 100th day as the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia. From 01/09/2009 onwards, there will be a discount for frequent users of tolls in Malaysia.
Any user who pays toll 80 times or more per month will be given a 20% discount. This is only for users of the Touch and Go and Smart Tag systems, and not for those who use cash to pay for their tolls.
Ok that was the sweetened part.
The horrible truth is our roads is all inter-linked with tolls (tidak boleh lari). Anywhere you go you are bound to be charged. And no matter whether it is a Smart card/Smart tag or the MLFF (Multi-Lane Free Flow) electronic toll collection system IT IS STILL jam during the morning rush hour/evening after office hour.
Another horrible truth is that the toll concessionaire were granted the rights to collect toll till kingdom come (happy thing is I might not be around by then) BUT our children, grandchildren or great grandchildren will still have to pay through their nose!
This is a archaic privatization practice during Samy Vellu era. What they do then is to survey a road that can be/need upgrading and duly apply for the concession rights and duly do up the road and next erect toll booths along strategic area (supaya semua kena).
And the sad thruth is: the toll concessionaire was given to cronies company of the then power would be. Agreement signed was in favourable of them.
I’m not any politically liked person, but what I write here expressed the sentiments all of us have to bear/suffer for many many many years to come.
You may be mistaken?