In January this year, PLUS Malaysia announced that the North-South Expressway would support toll payments via RFID (radio frequency identification), with Touch ‘n Go and SmartTAG lanes set to be reduced in stages.
Following the rollout on January 15, motorists complained of congestion at toll plazas due to a variety of issues, prompting the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to instruct the highway concessionaire to maintain both TnG and SmartTAG lanes.
In the months since the implementation of RFID on PLUS highways, many motorists have shared their experience using the new toll payment method, with some even offering suggestions on how to improve things.
One such person is Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, who took to Facebook recently to share his personal experience using RFID. The former deputy minister of international trade and industry also proposed some recommendation on how to improve the toll payment infrastructure in Malaysia moving forward.
According to Ong, he first started using RFID in March 2022 while in Johor, where he noticed that many of the toll plazas in and near Johor Bahru lacked SmartTAG lanes and instead only had TnG lanes and one RFID lane.
“The Touch ‘n Go lanes had long queues especially during peak hours while the RFID lane was generally quite clear. It was very easy to order the RFID Tag via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app on my phone and it was also very easy to install the tag on my windscreen,” he recalled.
Ong also pointed out the benefits of RFID over SmartTAG, including not having to aim the SmartTAG at the overhead reader; worrying if there’s sufficient balance in the TnG card since RFID is linked to the eWallet and can be easily topped up manually or automatically; not requiring a battery, faster through access (assuming no one gets stuck); not worrying about being too close to the car in front; and having a transaction record, although you can still get this with the TnG card.
He also highlighted some issues he faced like the RFID reader that couldn’t detect the tag if he was driving too fast when approaching the barrier, which apparently happened once in three months of usage.
Another challenge relates to the severely limited number of RFID lanes – one in most instances – making it dangerous to cut across a few lanes to get to the RFID lane, as is the case for him at the Cheras Batu 11 toll. He also said that in situations where the RFID lane is stuck, there’s still a need for a SmartTAG to keep going, which relates to another matter where one might forget that they entered via RFID and exited using SmartTAG or vice versa.
Moving onto proposed improvements, Ong suggested that PLUS, TnG and LLM work together to analyse the traffic data at toll lanes in relation to RFID, TnG and SmartTAG usage to assess their respective efficiencies and to take the necessary corrective actions.
“If PLUS and Touch ‘n Go can show that the speed of traffic flow is significantly faster at RFID lanes compared to the other lanes, this may push more highway users to install the RFID tag and the government target of 60% RFID usage by the end of 2022 may be achieved. Big data analytics at the various toll booths may also help PLUS and Touch ‘n Go identify areas of likely congestion where more assets such as support staff can be deployed to resolve payment problems.” he explained.
Another suggestion is for reminders to be pushed to users when their balance is low – eWallet or regular TnG card – as well as encouraging users to use the automatic top-up function. Ong also referred to our suggestion to allow for a negative balance (Pay Later) charge first to counter the issue of low balances at toll plazas and reminding users to top up their card or e-wallet later.
On a related note, allowing RFID users to link other payment systems beyond just the eWallet is another suggestion. The newly introduced Enhanced Touch ‘n Go card has been long-awaited by many and is proving to be a lot more practical than the legacy version, although it is being sold in limited quantities thus far, which is another thing that Ong hopes will improve.
While private passenger vehicles are typically the focal point when it comes to toll payments, Ong also mentioned commercial vehicles like lorries, buses and other heavy vehicles, which will transition to RFID in 2023. The hope is this can be done sooner as it can help speed up traffic flow at entry and exits points along the NSE which have limited toll lanes.
Lastly, Ong said the works ministry needs to state a clear timeline towards the realisation of a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system. As it stands, the official word for MLFF is it will be fully implemented by 2025.
Do you agree with Ong’s suggestions, or do you have other ideas on how to improve the toll payment infrastructure in Malaysia? Abolishing tolls completely sounds great but that’s not going to happen anytime soon. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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This useless fella can suggest all he wants lar now that he is not minister. Bullshit talking kok.
Why he not implement all those ideas when he was PH minister? Why all these PH fellas suddenly woke once they were kicked out. When they were ministers xde idea, xde contribution langsung. Tau makan je, tau lepaskan geng2 mrk dari disiasat je, tau berpolitiking je. Keje tak tau.
Some just bought the latest 2022 Smartag laa
https://paultan.org/2022/05/08/maxtag-raya-edition-smarttag-teal-colour/
Smart Tag is 30something years technology bro. Was he such a kayangan that he never use Smart Tag until he got booted out from the Govt? Wow bro!
Recalcitrant Amran
Dont be so political,this dude no more fighting in GE15.
Let him express his thots.
What have you contributed ?? Any ideas? One finger pointing at him,the other fingers pointing at yourself,dude.
Paultan,this forum is for betterment of Malaysia,not getting emotional,just because of different political ideologies.
Paultan forum should welcome diversity of thoughts,not being super aggressive as if fighting in Hell hole Ukraine.
Copy paste: “Ape benda la yg ko merepek ni”
Pentaksub Albert.
Dahlah banyak kali readers sound kamu merepek kat sini tapi maseh xmasuk akal, entahlah mungkin xde akal kot.
But I can say you the same, what have you contributed ?? Any ideas? One finger pointing at me,the other fingers pointing at yourself,dude.
So far I see you only contribute to cluttering the comment section with nonsense talking about Ukraine and being a PH pentaksub. You are not showing us diversity of thought but diversity of stupidity.
Betaubatlah Albert.
Diversity of stupidity, hahaha I like that! Does describe him well.
Totally agree, paultan comments section has been a breeding grown for BN cybertroopers. For them BN can do no wrong and PH is the devil that can do nothing right.
I will openly admit that I am a opposition supporter. With that said, I can also admit that they should have done more when they were in power. They took things for granted and thought that they were going to be in power for a long time. There were also useless ministers who were not qualified to be made ministers.
Can BN supporters do the same and criticize when their beloved party make mistakes?
Totally disagree, paultan comments section has been a breeding grown for PH cybertroopers. For them PH can do no wrong and BN is the devil that can do nothing right.
I will openly admit that I am a opposition nonsupporter. With that said, I can also admit that they should have done more when they were in power. They took things for granted and thought that they were going to be in power for a long time. There were also useless ministers who were not qualified to be made ministers.
But all that is wayang as they blame those MPs or parties who left, do PH supporters really admit the same and criticize when their beloved party make mistakes?
Thank you for helping me make my point !!!!
Agreed. PH macais should bertaubat and stop your nonsense here.
They were only in power for 2 years! What do you expect them to do in such a short time! While I agree that there were useless ministers during PH time, this guy was one of the better ones.
And just because PH is no more in power doesn’t mean that their MP’s cannot give any feedback. It’s their freaking job la.
Janji is 100 days
https://paultan.org/2018/07/30/highway-tolls-cant-be-abolished-within-100-days/
They had 222 days which is more than double to fulfill their promises so 2 years is more than enough of their shenanigans and broken promises.
People are sick & tired of being fooled and taken for a ride by PH. No point for him to cry wolf now, when he was in power he coulda done something but he did not. He took the easy way out of “giving ideas” when he has no obligation to do it. So as MP he is just makan gaji buta.
Janji tu 100 days, janji tu bukan 2 tahun! Paham!!!
last time RFID pilot testing for two years.. the objective was to abolish toll gate. but look at us now? way far behinddd
https://paultan.org/2022/02/14/rfid-for-tolls-is-the-future-eliminates-congestion-by-aiding-mlff-and-its-implementation-madani/
RFID is the key towards abolish toll gates but development have been hampered by 2+ years of Covid, MCO, lockdown, & financial crunch.
If Pakatan Harapan (of which Ong KM was part of) had abolished toll as promised, then congestion would not have happened because issues of RFID wouldn’t have cropped up. Surprised he didn’t comment on this.
Correct. I will choose bossku over PH anytime
What kind of bullshitt is this
Yes ‘bullshit’ indeed! Why is an elected MP giving suggestions on how to improve? It’s not his job! He should know his role and shut his mouth! Just makan gaji enough la!
What is the point of saying after the fact that he no longer has power and thus coulda done something about it? No point crying wolf now when he is trying to make himself relevant when in reality he just makan gaji MP buta.
The toll issue is not a rocket science. If they are not capable to resolve it ( despite consumers the one absorbing the cost of chosen technology, smart tag, rfid etc) just remove the toll. U are too stupid to be entitled to collect toll. PUI!!
The Toll issue incompetency will go on for another century,whether it is Ajibkor,Mamak,Hamidikor or Ong Kian ming giving suggestions.
Once they are given near monopoly…not only Cash is King,I am like Elon Musk,no one can unseat me.
Copy paste: “If Pakatan Harapan (of which Ong KM was part of) had abolished toll as promised, then congestion would not have happened because issues of RFID wouldn’t have cropped up. Surprised he didn’t comment on this.”
Paying 35 for a piece of sticker is daylight robbery
Paying thousand bucks for a golf membership card is daylight robbery but hey at least you got the convenience of that sticker. Golfers have to pay to suffer under hot sun, so you got it good enough.
I do not agree to the pricing of the sticker when I can print my own and better sticker for less than RM1 they should let us register our n own so guarantee no problem
all media like to lying this is not sure now why about 7 eleven time i top up my credit so close anytime why? so close my way
Benefits? Where got benefits…if got why are so many people complaining? Neither side has got the guts to dismantle the established cash cow of toll payments to allow for free flow toll collection.
What’s so hard to install the equipment? They did that for the hundreds of toll plaza’s nationwide with RFID. But no….don’t want to tackle the number plate making business, don’t want to issue standardised plates (JPJ can charge a fee – more revenue for government) don’t want to install licence plate recognition technology, don’t want to offer people an online option to pay their toll within x amount of days using their license plate or get fined. Casual users pay as needed, frequent travellers can buy the tag/device. Wonder what the balik kampung jam will look like if that happens…might not be so bad after all. But no…no guts and brains only for gasaking the rakyat’s money.
Touch ‘n Go wallet cannot terminate the RFID through internet, but have to email and etc. Can u get the online to do so? Same like portal RFID online.
TnG & PLUS should just learn from the Indonesian how to properly implement RFID.
In indonesia, their rfid is basically no rfid, you pay cash to the town penghulu as tolls if you want to cross his terittory. Such corruption is a way of life there.
Why not install all types of payment in all lanes, and an automatic plate reader to easily clear stuck motorists through the toll barrier amd charge them later instead of their having to reverse out? Doh! The technology isn’t beyond us, only the joined up thinking that would fix these problems.
There are flaws in the MP’s comments.
1. To use lack of credit in the card as a reason is erroneous. TnG cards can be linked to the wallet, unlike RFID which has no retained credit.
2. If RFID fails to be detected, there is no backup. If a smarttag is not detected, one can still use the card as a backup. Thus, anyone who does not also own a TnG card will be stuck at the toll plaza. Therefore, RFID is not completely replacing the TnG card.
3. Just like the smarttag, RFID is not perfect. Assuming 1 million cars will pass through toll plazas daily, a 1% error will result in 10 thousand cars being stuck with no backups.
By all means promote RFID. But please keep the TnG card & smarttag lanes available separately, until TnG is able to come out with a “poka-yoke” solution for RFID usage.
Just leave one lane with tng and all other barrierless rfid so that pushing ppl to change RFID, not tangkuku waiting for them to change slowly. Let them frustrated waiting in the single tng lane then only they feel the pain of not getting RFID.