No more toll-free travel for festive seasons beginning this year – targeted approach to be used instead

The government has announced it will no longer offer highway toll exemptions for festive season holidays starting this year.

This was revealed by works minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who said the matter had been decided at a cabinet meeting last year and is in line with the government’s shift towards targeted subsidies, reports Berita Harian. The government will replace the end of highway toll exemptions with a more targeted approach – details will be provided later.

“We will announce in the near future [a more targeted approach]. Last year, the government decided that 2024 would be the last year for free tolls during the festive season,” said Nanta.

The last time the government offered toll-free travel was during Christmas last year. Previously, the government said it had to compensate highway concessionaries, with the bill for the period from December 23-24, 2024 being RM38 million.

On average, the government pays about RM20 million a day to highway concessionaries so motorists can enjoy toll-free travel. In 2024, RM80.07 million was paid out in conjunction with the Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Chinese New Year and Christmas festivities.

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