The flip-flop over the decision on ending free toll during festive periods has been amusing, to say the least, but some quarters are saying that the government should have stuck to its guns on the move to end it. According to several economic experts, the 50% highway toll discount for Chinese New Year is a compromise that serves little purpose, as The Star reports.
Economist Barjoyai Bardai said the government is making the right move in abolishing the toll-free initiative considering that the expenses it bore could have been used for other assistance. “This is an ad hoc initiative and the government spends around RM200 million annually. In 10 years, it would be RM2 billion,” he said.
“Such an amount could be used to cover more comprehensive assistance like education, housing or basic necessities like food or the affordable meal initiative, Menu Rahmah,” he added.
This sentiment was echoed by Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Road Safety Research Centre head Law Teik Hua, who said the compensation could be better used for other purposes, like supporting underprivileged groups. Law added that offering free tolls encourages people who are not celebrating the festival to use the expressways, potentially increasing congestion.
Meanwhile, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman economics professor Wong Chin Yoong said that the original purpose of the toll-free gesture was to allow easier travel during festive seasons by reducing traffic congestion at toll plazas.
“However, the government is now linking the toll free measure to targeted subsidies where only B40 and M20 should benefit. It’s too complicated for a two-day toll fare discount to be associated with a welfare policy. It is not well-designed or well-targeted and is not an effective measure,” he said, adding that the angle of offering a 50% discount during the period would not have a significant impact on reducing the cost of living for anyone.
On January 21, the government announced that it was ending free toll for festive seasons as of this year, starting with Chinese New Year. On January 22, deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that having free toll does not solve festive congestion, before prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim followed up the next day by revealing that a targeted approach (ensuring that only those who deserve it get free toll) was being worked on.
It took only another day for things to change, with the government then announcing that it would offer a 50% discount for highway toll from 12.01 midnight on Monday, January 27 until 11.59 pm on Tuesday, January 28 for Class 1 private vehicles at all toll plazas except those at borders, namely the Sultan Iskandar Building Toll Plaza on the PLUS North-South Highway and the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua).
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We as NSE user, i think most of us prefer not to stuck in the jam of no way because of this free toll issue. if no free toll, do u think we won’t go home during festive season?
Is amazing suddenly
50% users are T15
Failure of Govt official “storyline”, targeted RON95 this coming Jun shall see RM3.0-3.2/L with many shall be affected. So enjoy the 2.05 remaining 4mths
Hooray lesser free tongkat policy
it’s a waste to subsidise toll during festive season. we must learn to priortise government spending. that is responsible way of governance. stop the old tactics of buying votes using un-wise spending.
End free tol and also end all subsidies. Use tax money for better uses such as better free medical for all and improve standard free education to include tertiary studies. Also make tertiary study more inclusives and remove quota to be fair for ALL MALAYSIANS.
If they can afford to go outstation, the toll fees is nothing !
Makan minum accommodation & entertainment cost more .. way more than the toll fee.
And government cannot use public money to “reward” only those who travel during this period.
It should be used for all ..
The stupidity of those in power sometimes is just ridiculous.. wise up YB(s)
aiya, what is RM2b in 10 years? if the money can be use for other use, what about RM2.6b that benefited 1 person and the fine being reduced from RM210m to RM50m? That money can also be use for other use. all these so called experts don’t see other wastages that happen in Malaysia.
Refer my name
Then no need false commitments bfr election,manifesto for no toll /zero tolls ,
Now win election and actions r bak and now wan to listen these crabs ,useless economists
do better journalism, stop giving these irrelevant “experts” coverage
Yes coz the promise isn’t festive season free toll but free toll 247. PH janji dah pegi mana?
Yes, remove all subsidies.. but make sure the subsidies help the Malaysians not the foreigners, working, studying or holidaying here
How come our so called experts so simple minded? What about spending when people travel outstation, no economic benefit meh?
If average toll costs RM20, loss of RM200 million means 10 million cars on the road travel outstation. You think people travel outstation dun spend any money? Even one car family of four sure spend more than eating and playing la.