50% highway toll discount for CNY, January 27-28

The cabinet has decided on a 50% highway toll discount for Chinese New Year (CNY). This will take effect from 12.01 midnight on Monday, January 27 until 11.59 pm on Tuesday, January 28 for Class 1 private vehicles at all toll plazas except those at borders, namely the Sultan Iskandar Building Toll Plaza on the PLUS North-South Highway and the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua).

Works minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said in a statement that this would cost the government an estimated RM20.08 million in compensation to the toll concessionaires, and that from 2023-2024, RM356.18 million has been spent to give the rakyat free toll during Raya, CNY, Deepavali and Christmas.

He clarified that his January 21 announcement regarding stopping free toll for festive seasons was based on an earlier cabinet decision on December 20.

Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi then said on January 22 that free toll does not solve festive congestion, before prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim followed up the next day by revealing that a targeted approach (ensuring that only those who deserve it get free toll) was being worked on.

The narrative turned around this morning – deputy works minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the decision could change, and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) also called for free toll for CNY.

Looks like the cabinet changed its mind “in line with the government’s agenda to safeguard the unity and well-being of the people, supported by the government’s strong financial position as a result of the subsidy rationalisation programme and increased investment and trade,” the works minister’s statement said.

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