Government to continue offering 50% toll discount for all festive seasons in 2025 – works minister

Following the move to offer a 50% highway toll discount for Chinese New Year, the government has announced that a 50% toll discount will be implemented during all festive seasons in 2025 to replace the previous toll-free initiative, Bernama reports.

Works minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the 50% toll discount was approved in a previous cabinet meeting in conjunction with CNY. “For Chinese New Year, a 50% discount was given, with the decision made considering that the people still need it. Therefore, the cabinet has decided to continue this throughout the year during festive seasons, including Aidilfitri and beyond,” he said.

He added that the measure would reduce the compensation borne by the government to highway concessionaires in terms of public spending, given that the cost of the toll discount is covered by the government using public funds, not by the highway concession companies.

“In a year, eight days were allocated for toll-free travel. Now, the same number of days will have a 50% discount instead. If it was free, we would spend RM160 million, and by halving it, the payment to concessionaires amounts to RM80 million,” he said.

Initially, the government had announced on January 21 that it was ending free toll for festive seasons as of this year, starting with Chinese New Year, with deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explaining that having free toll did not solve festive congestion.

Following this, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim then said that plans for a targeted approach (ensuring that only those who deserve it get free toll) was being worked on. By January 24, the government had changed its tack, and announced a 50% discount on highway toll for two days during CNY.

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