The current trialling of radio frequency identification (RFID) for toll payment along the North-South Expressway (PLUS) is crucial to ensure that the system works efficiently before its usage is expanded, according to works minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said that during the trial period, any issues, including administrative and legal matters, would be identified and resolved to ensure that the system works smoothly and not become a burden to motorists, as Bernama reports.
“This is what we are looking at and working on at the level of the Malaysian highway authority and works ministry,” he said during Q&A time in the Dewan Negara yesterday. He was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Razali Idris, who wanted to know whether the ministry was considering placing the SmartTag and RFID systems under a common lane instead of separating them, as they are now.
Fadillah said the suppliers for the two toll payment systems were different, as was the technology used for both (RFID and infra-red). “They are separated because the tag readers might be ‘confused’ if placed in the same lane,” he explained. He added that the introduction of RFID was in line with the government’s plan to switch to the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system by 2025.
Separately, Fadillah said the ministry has also conducted various studies, engagement sessions and dialogues with stakeholders to obtain feedback and suggest the best solution. He said that based on the studies, RFID was ideal for the purpose of implementing a non-stop MLFF toll collection system, as it has been widely adopted in many countries. However, he added that the ministry will continue to study the effectiveness of RFID technology compared to existing technologies before making the next decision.
He added that the ministry will also need to ensure the ability to track vehicle number plates for the purpose of enforcing toll offenses with the MLFF. He said that based on records, the number of vehicles detected committing toll trespass offenses from 2016 to 2019 was 1.2 million vehicles, with toll revenue losses incurred by concessionaires estimated at RM23.08 million.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
RFID pilot programe started since September 2018 and now is March 2022 how long more do you need as a Trail period – Efficiency we Love.
Yesterday. drove from Sg Besi to Kajang.
Entry point is alright, went thru no problem. arrive kajang and was waiting in like for approx 10 mins. The issue arises from not being able to use the TNG lanes or others if we enter thru RFID. this is totally trash and really silly. what a waste of time.
Quoted text :
“Fadillah said the suppliers for the two toll payment systems were different, as was the technology used for both (RFID and infra-red). “They are separated because the tag readers might be ‘confused’ if placed in the same lane,” he explained.”
Can anybody explain to me what is the Menteri said? Got really really CONFUSED right now.
How the tag reader could get confuse? Sajat is driving the car ke?
When decision makers who know crap are advised by “engineers”.
We have ministers who are detached from the real world. Too dumb beyond belief. We get what we voted for…
The Smartag system uses an infrared downlink signal to your car and then your Smartag does an uplink using radio frequency upon receiving that infrared signal. That way, even adjacent lanes of Smartag won’t false trigger as the infrared information is unique to that lane and only your car can receive it due to the small angle of reception. The RFID on the other hand, upon detecting a car is in the position based on the loop detector on the floor it will send downlink signal to excite your passive RFID. The RF signal received by your RFID energised it, is then used for it send back the unique identification back to the reader. So, by right the different systems shouldn’t get confused. And it can always do an OR decision making if both tags are present. It is only a matter of “mahu atau seribu satu alasan”. Anyhow the RFID frequency used for this purpose and it’s other characteristics is already unsuitable and this project is considered dead even before it arrives. Now, the only reason of continuing it would be “money already exchanged hand” over the course of numerous testing since 2018.
He probably meant, those with Smart Tag device mounted cars will then get double charged at the same time if both systems are present on a car passing the toll. He wasn’t wrong since both systems are technologically incompatible and do not ‘talk’ to each other.
The present conundrum is trying to maintain the old Smart Tag system while ramping up usage of RFID. The smart way is to hasten installation of RFID service at other ‘missing’ areas currently occupied by Smart Tag within this year and quickly phase out the old system.
MLFF can wait but for the moment, the focus should be streamlining toll payment towards RFID only. There will be less ‘confusion’ with just TNG/RFID payment which then later be singled down to RFID only.
What they could improve better perhaps to display the balance amount of credit remaining in the Ewallet, if not at the toll plaza then some form of notification on the phone either thru Ewallet app function or via SMS whenever transaction is made.
We know Malaysians are vary callous at keeping track of such things, so a trigger notification to prevent such ‘forgetfulness’ will help to further smoothen transition to a full RFID usage.
When are you going to reduce the price of the RFID tag? Another empty promise again????
Still waiting 45 months for this empty promise…..
Lately thanks to people spreading bad news and hearsay about RFID, ironically RFID lanes are clear at toll plazas while many frequently queuing at Smart tag lanes. But hey, if my journeys thru tolls are gonna be this smooth while people are skeptical of RFID, please do continue the negative talks about it.
Smart tag works!
Yes. And the test results were so disappointing. So why still keep expanding to the point you remove Smarttag lanes?
Reduced Smarttag lanes to artificially induced jam for the Smarttag users due to less lane available for the same amount of the usual Smarttag users. This will make it appear as if RFiD is better because Smarttag lane always jam up and force/cheat Samrttag users to convert to RFID.
Also of course the extremely high profit margin for a piece of RFID sticker that probably cost only few ringgit to manufacture but sell for RM35. A sticker that will fail very much earlier and easier, compare to Smarttag device cost much higher to manufacture, having less sale due to higher selling price and not uncommon to last a decade.
Problem is not the TECH is the design!! SmarTAG user uses the TnG physical card to scan if something gone wrong; What can RFID-TNG user do if gone wrong?
They should install the PayDirect system so that TnG and eWallet is linked. Else they should install QR code reader in the RFID lane so that the ewallet phone app can be used as replacement, if there is something wrong with the RFID reading.
Unfortunately they seems like cheapskates who are only concerned with raking in money, not providing service.
If you are an IT staff/Engineer for TnG,…haih…
Where are your use cases? Are all the techs middlewares or from third party, thus all the weird workaround “integration”? I’ve seen better implementations by students.
superb failure
FRID is certainly not an improvement.
1. Often it does not work, holding up traffic, while smart tag users happily go through.
2. RFID display does not show account balance.
3. Forced to use T&G e-wallet. Should have more e-wallets
4. Slower that Smart tag
5. Barrier opens when the car is close to it, causing drivers to slow down.
Honestly, the system should be scrapped as it does not show any advantage.
I use smart tag. Its wonderful!
Why some places no smart tag? It works really well.
“Fadillah said the ministry has also conducted various studies, engagement sessions and dialogues with stakeholders to obtain feedback and suggest the best solution. He said that based on the studies, RFID was ideal for the purpose of implementing a non-stop MLFF toll collection system, as it has been widely adopted in many countries. However, he added that the ministry will continue to study the effectiveness of RFID technology compared to existing technologies before making the next decision”
Woi your biggest stakeholder consulted or not? Remember rakyat Malaysia? All that BS he spewed translates to “We spent a lot of taxpayers money and time to consult everyone else how to squeeze more money from the taxpayers. That’s what the ideal purpose is. Memang Lumayan Free Flow of cash for us”.