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

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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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard's strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • minatollcantek on Jan 21, 2025 at 2:38 pm

    Aiyaaa. We did not even ask for the toll rebate in the first place. We didn’t even care. Why whining now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
    • Dah Menang Semua on Jan 21, 2025 at 8:38 pm

      Congratulations! CNY folks
      – free toll … cut
      – fuel subsidy … cut
      – corrupt leaders … lepas
      Now… U know who to vote next

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • Robinhood on Jan 21, 2025 at 3:07 pm

    Also time for us to consider paying lesser taxes to feed these bums. Praying hard that GE is this year!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
  • Nurul Izzah on Jan 21, 2025 at 3:08 pm

    Anwar menang rakyat senang

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • Janji Dicapati on Jan 21, 2025 at 3:08 pm

    Refer my name

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Bye Bye Pakatan Hancing on Jan 21, 2025 at 3:09 pm

    This will be your last term

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 2
  • DonkeyKong on Jan 21, 2025 at 3:10 pm

    Sembang kari pasal hapus told like there’s no limit to their promises.

    End up, they can’t even sustain festival-period toll-free travel.

    But that’s ok, millions of suckers have already donated to Tabung Harapan to “save Malaysia” LOL. No idea where all that money went. Certainly not for eliminating highway tolls!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • ThePolygon on Jan 21, 2025 at 4:15 pm

    In a way, it should have not started in the first place.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Gomorrah on Jan 21, 2025 at 4:26 pm

    Why not you all target your efforts on ending these lopsided concession arrangements, and hand over the maintenance to JKR la. Get rid of all useless deadwood in the civil service so our taxes can be used to maintain the road instead of paying extra tax via tolls to private crony companies. But noooo, too difficult. We just have to keep paying increasing prices cos traders will always say tol naik, minyak naik but gaji for non civil servant workers barely naik.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • bersyukur? on Jan 21, 2025 at 4:38 pm

    yum yum kenyang sedap croni croni… 30million for a Xmas paid by government

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Jan 21, 2025 at 4:54 pm

    remember that Hari Raya also don’t give free tolls. don’t later u-turn to get votes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
  • Phuddi sung Lee on Jan 21, 2025 at 5:34 pm

    Truly a shameful act,have money to mve around the world but for us middle finger only ,not agree at all ,should revoke immediately

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Lampie on Jan 21, 2025 at 6:10 pm

    If you don’t give then do it blanketly . What targeted approach pulak . Traveling on highway is not essential item . Always pandering to B40 .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • Art of maleise politics on Jan 21, 2025 at 10:59 pm

      Rule no. 1 – Weaponize poverty and keep the poor addicted and dependent on handouts

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • ROTI CANAI on Jan 21, 2025 at 6:15 pm

    lol this year is everything cut cost year. butministers get nice new zeekr mpv

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 0
  • sekentut on Jan 22, 2025 at 12:11 am

    Give toll free from 1 day, highway packs with cars, cars did not move at all like just parks there…
    Better give free 2 or 3 days before and after CNY to encourage drivers to hit the road earlier. Then those late drivers can get ease traffic flows.
    If everyone flocks to toll free period, jams like hell laa.. waste fuel, waste time, all the saving just go drains.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • It is fair to non-user. Ultimately the government pay the toll with taxpayer’s money.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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