“No More Free Tolls During Festive Seasons, Government Introduces Targeted Approach”

Source: Berita Harian

The government has decided to discontinue the practice of providing free tolls during festive seasons starting this year. This decision was finalized in a Cabinet meeting held last year, according to the Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

In a statement to the media, he explained that the move aims to streamline subsidies more effectively. While the details of this new approach have yet to be announced, he emphasized that the practice of offering free tolls during major festivities like Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year will no longer continue.

“There will be no more free tolls during festive seasons,” said Nanta Linggi.

However, he assured the public that the government is designing a more effective alternative to ensure the benefits reach those who truly need them.

High Costs of Free Tolls

According to reports, the government previously incurred an average cost of RM20 million per day for free toll initiatives. Last year alone, significant sums were spent, including RM80.07 million for Aidilfitri, RM42.31 million for Deepavali, RM41.21 million for Chinese New Year, and RM38 million for Christmas.

This step is not only intended to manage government expenditure but also to realign subsidies in a fairer manner without straining the national budget.

Previously, the costs of toll exemptions during festive seasons were fully borne by the government without involving highway concessionaires. This makes the decision to end free tolls a challenging but necessary measure to balance the country’s financial burden.

A New Approach in the Works

While the discontinuation of free tolls may disappoint some citizens, the government is in the process of designing a targeted approach expected to be announced soon. Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi hinted that the new initiative might involve other measures to ensure specific groups continue to benefit.

For now, the free toll provision during last Christmas marked the final implementation of this initiative.