Hari Raya 2022

• JPJ launches Ops Hari Raya Aidiladha – until July 13

  In Local News / By Gerard Lye / 7 July 2022 4:44 pm / 5 comments

  

  The road transport department (JPJ) has launched Op Khas Hari Raya Aidiladha which will run until next Wednesday (July 13, 2022) to ensure a smooth and safe journey for road users who are heading back to their hometowns for the holiday.

  Speaking to Bernama, JPJ deputy director-general (planning and operations) Aedy Fadly Ramli said the operation will focus more on express bus drivers. “Express bus drivers will be monitored at 28 main bus terminals nationwide by officers disguised as passengers and we will also be deployed along the highway,” he said during a press conference yesterday.

  In addition to express bus drivers, the operation will also monitor nine major offences, including speeding, not using seat belts, overloading of hazardous materials. Individuals driving without a licence or an expired one will also be nabbed by the department. “Vehicles with expired road tax will also be seized in this operation,” said Aedy.

  He advised road users to always be careful and abide by road safety rules and has called on the public to report on traffic offences through the e-Aduan@JPJ mobile app.

   

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• Hari Raya Haji 2022: PLUS North South Highway travel time advisory to plan your journey from July 7-12

  In Local News / By Danny Tan / 7 July 2022 9:53 am / 0 comment

  

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  Hari Raya Aidiladha or Hari Raya Haji falls on this Sunday, July 10, which means that next Monday is a public holiday and many will balik kampung to celebrate. You’ve seen the travel time advisory (TTA) for the Karak Highway and East Coast Highway (LPT1) for those heading east; now here’s the TTA for the PLUS North South Highway for the July 7-12 travel period.

  “We are expecting about 1.9 million vehicles to use the highway each day this Aidiladha in comparison to the current 1.8 million vehicles plying our highway daily, so some congestion and a prolonged travel time are to be expected. Therefore, we strongly advise highway users to adhere to our TTA, plan out their journeys beforehand, and make the necessary preparations for a longer journey,” said PLUS COO Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.

  For the balik kampung from July 7-10, those heading from the Klang Valley to further destinations such as Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North), and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 10am. Those who are going to nearer destinations and other states are advised to enter the PLUS after 1pm.

  

  As for the pulang ke bandar return trip from July 10-12, everyone should enter the highway before 9am. PLUS says that the TTA is designed based on historical traffic data and its purpose is to distribute traffic and circumvent the convergence of traffic. When vehicles enter the highway at the same time, congestion on major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas occur.

  “Based on our studies of the return journey to Klang Valley, highway users can expect an extension of up to twice as long as the average travel time on the highway if they choose not to adhere to the TTA schedule as advised,” Zakaria added.

  Regular traffic updates are provided through the @PLUSTrafik Twitter service, the PLUS app, the toll free PLUSLine at 1800-88-0000, the Putri chatbot, on electronic message signs (VMS) along the highway and via radio announcements. The PLUS App also provides live CCTV feed of critical locations along the highway, a toll fare calculator and a built-in journey planner.

  Use Waze or Google Maps, ensure that your car is serviced and in good condition, and your Touch n Go card (or eWallet for RFID users) is loaded up. Drive safe. And don’t use the emergency lane.

   

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• Hari Raya Haji 2022: Karak Highway, LPT 1 Aidiladha travel time advisory to plan your journey

  In Local News / By Danny Tan / 6 July 2022 9:40 am / 0 comment

  

  Click to enlarge

  Hari Raya Aidiladha or Hari Raya Haji falls on this Sunday, July 10, which means that next Monday is a public holiday. Many will balik kampung to celebrate and concessionaire Anih Berhad is expecting 1,648,000 vehicles on the Karak Highway and 704,000 vehicles on the East Coast Highway (LPT1) over the July 8-11 period.

  That’s a lot of cars heading east, given that the average weekend volume is 161,000 cars on the Karak and 65,000 vehicles on the LPT1. So, Anih has issued a travel time advisory (TTA) for those heading east, with day and night options.

  The Karak and LPT1 TTA is for the travel period of July 8 (Friday) to July 11 (Monday). For the all-important trip home, vehicles from the Klang Valley heading east at the Gombak toll plaza should enter the highway from 10am to 1pm if they’re heading to Pahang. Another option is between 9pm to 11pm at night.

  

  If you’re heading to Kelantan and Terengganu, enter Karak from 6am to 10am, or 7pm to 10pm. Basically, the further you’re going, the earlier you enter. Free for all from midnight to 6am, where it’s expected to be less congested. Note that express buses heading to the east coast will entering the Gombak toll from 9.30 am to noon and 9.30 pm to midnight, so light vehicles, take note and avoid.

  For the return journey to the Klang Valley, those entering the LPT from Pahang (all toll plazas) can do so from 6am to 10am, or 7pm to 11pm. Those from Terengganu, enter the Jabor toll from 10am to 1pm, or from 8pm to 10pm. Lastly, cars from Kelantan are advised to enter the Bentong toll plaza from 5pm onwards.

  It’s going to be a long journey, longer than the usual weekend, so ensure that your car is serviced and in good condition, and your Touch n Go card (or eWallet for RFID users) is loaded up. Drive safe and be patient. If you’re one of those who are always tempted by the emergency lane, watch this.

   

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• Service stations run out of petrol across Malaysia, leaving many motorists stranded after Hari Raya break

  In Local News / By Anthony Lim / 7 May 2022 4:49 pm / 30 comments

  

  The long Hari Raya break has seen an influx of vehicles making their way across states in the country, and that volume has caught out the supply of fuel in many places, with a large number of service stations running out of petrol, in particular RON 95, due to the significant increase in demand. This led to many motorists being unable to refuel their cars for the return journey, the Malay Mail reports.

  Users began taking to Twitter to report the issue last night, with many sharing their experience of finding low or no supply of the RON 95 petrol at petrol stations. While most were centred around the East Coast, parts of Perak, Kedah and Perlis were also listed as being affected by the fuel shortage. Some Twitter users also related that some service stations rationed how much petrol they could buy, with caps of RM20 and RM30 being reported.

  Astro Awani reported that around 200 vehicles were stranded after a petrol station at Kampung Saujana in Setiu, Terengganu ran out of fuel yesterday evening. It added that the tanker arrived later, at around midnight.

  

  The Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) said that the shortage was due to an unexpected surge in demand, coupled with the massive congestion on highways, which caused petrol tankers to be late in reaching service stations.

  Speaking to The Malaysian Insight, PDAM president Datuk Khairul Anwar Abdul Aziz said that the fuel tankers also had to ration their supplies at each place as many petrol stations were facing a shortage. “The sale is too high and the jam is too much. [For] the tankers to reach stations, they will have delays with coming and going [from station to station],” he was quoted saying.

  He added that it wasn’t just service stations on the highways but also those along main roads, such as those heading to the East Coast, that were out of petrol. “This Raya is different from others, it was a surprise. The sale has been crazy. Usually it is 20% up from normal days, this time it is 40% up,” he said, adding that the fuel shortage is expected to continue until tomorrow (Sunday).

   

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• Hari Raya 2022: PLUS highway is toll-free again up to May 8 11:59 pm – tips for your journey back home!

  In Local News / By Paul Tan / 7 May 2022 4:19 pm / 1 comment

  

  After a week of festivities, spending time with our families and friends thanks to the first balik kampung allowed after two years of pandemic lockdowns, the PLUS highway is once again toll-free for a limited period of time for the journey back home.

  This final toll-free period announced by the government for the Hari Raya 2022 festivities started at midnight the morning of Saturday May 7 2022 and will end at 11:59 pm Sunday May 8.

  The 11:59 pm deadline is key – if you’re late, just exit the highway before 11:59pm at the nearest exit. This will ensure you get free toll for the journey that you’ve already made. After that, you can re-enter the highway and you only have to pay toll for the remaining journey.

  The full list of highways in Malaysia with their respective discounted toll rates are as follows:

  Toll-free:

  1. Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS)
  2. Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Hubungan Tengah (Elite)
  3. Lebuhraya Seremban – Port Dickson (SPDH)
  4. Lebuhraya Butterworth – Kulim (BKE)
  5. Laluan Kedua Malaysia Singapura (Second Link) (Linkedua)
  6. Jambatan Pulau Pinang (Penang Bridge) (JPP)
  7. Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 1
  8. Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 2
  9. Lebuhraya KL – Karak (KLK)

  50% toll rate discount:

  10. Lebuhraya Shah Alam (Kesas)
  11. Lebuhraya Damansara – Puchong (LDP)
  12. Lebuhraya Cheras – Kajang (Grand Saga)
  13. Lebuhraya Sungai Besi (Besraya)
  14. Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE)
  15. Lebuhraya Bertingkat Ampang – KL (AKLEH)
  16. Lebuhraya KL-Putrajaya (MEX)
  17. Lebuhraya Duta – Ulu Kelang (DUKE)

  30% toll rate discount:

  18. Projek Pengurusan Air Banjir Dan Terowong (Smart Tunnel)
  19. Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (Guthrie Corridor Expressway)
  20. Lebuhraya KL- Kuala Selangor (Latar)
  21. Lebuhraya Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (LLB)

   

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• Hari Raya 2022: Emergency lane to be used as “Smartlane” – 3.1km between PD Utara-Seremban

  In Local News / By Paul Tan / 7 May 2022 3:07 pm / 4 comments

  

  PLUS has announced that a 3.1 km stretch of emergency lane between KM 260 and KM 263.1 north-bound on the PLUS highway will be used as an additional “Smartlane” in order to provide additional capacity on the highway to smoothen traffic flow during peak hours.

  The “Smartlane” will function this weekend but note that PLUS did not give any specific time that the “Smartlane” will be activated, just that it will be based on the current traffic situation. If you wish to exit at the Seremban toll plaza, you can use the “Smartlane”.

  Peronda duduk depan lori supaya 'pemotong que' tak perasan kehadirannya ???? pic.twitter.com/F2DfYqNb1n

  — MiLo SuaM (@milosuam) May 5, 2022

  Remember not to abuse the emergency lane at other sections of the highway that’s not activated as a “Smartlane”. Don’t cut the queue like the Proton X70 in the video above – you’re not special!

  As always, remember that you need to exit the highway using the same payment method that you entered with. If you enter using RFID, exit using RFID. The same applies to TnG/SmartTAG.

   

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• Hari Raya 2022: toll free period on PLUS Highway has ended for now – tips for the next 7-8 May period

  In Local News / By Paul Tan / 2 May 2022 11:18 am / 12 comments

  

  First of all, Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslim readers, and we hope you are enjoying the festivities with family and friends, and have managed to handle the last minute announcement of Raya today well.

  If you’re only making your way back to your hometown today, we have some bad news for you – the first session of the toll free period for Raya journeys officially ended at 11:59pm last night.

  The good news is there is another toll free period coming up for the return trip – it starts this weekend from midnight Saturday May 7 until 11:59 pm Sunday May 8.

  Here are some tips for making the best of the next toll-free period.

  1. If you’re late, exit the highway before 11:59pm and re-enter

  To qualify for the free toll, you have to exit the highway before the 11:59pm deadline on Sunday. So what do you have to do if you’re still on the highway before the toll free period ends?

  Just leave the highway at the nearest exit to you to get free toll for the journey that you’ve already made, and re-enter the highway. That way, you only have to pay toll for the remaining journey.

  2. You can start your journey earlier as long as you exit within the toll-free period

  Just like point number 1, the reverse applies. If you enter the highway before May 7, you still get free toll as long as you exit the highway after the midnight of May 7.

  You might want to take advantage of this to get most of your travelling done outside the toll-free period to avoid congestion.

  3. Remember which payment method you used to enter!

  If you have both TnG/SmartTAG and RFID in your car, this may get a bit confusing.

  PLUS reminds us that if you enter using TnG/SmartTAG, you need to exit using the same payment method. If you enter using RFID, exit using RFID.

  If you mix the payment options, it will result in you getting charged the maximum charge for the highway because your entry point was not recorded on the exit point system.

  But hey, if you think about it – if toll is free, does this penalty still apply?

  The full list of highways in Malaysia with their respective discounted toll rates over the stipulated periods are as follows:

  Toll-free:

  1. Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS)
  2. Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Hubungan Tengah (Elite)
  3. Lebuhraya Seremban – Port Dickson (SPDH)
  4. Lebuhraya Butterworth – Kulim (BKE)
  5. Laluan Kedua Malaysia Singapura (Second Link) (Linkedua)
  6. Jambatan Pulau Pinang (Penang Bridge) (JPP)
  7. Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 1
  8. Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 2
  9. Lebuhraya KL – Karak (KLK)

  50% toll rate discount:

  10. Lebuhraya Shah Alam (Kesas)
  11. Lebuhraya Damansara – Puchong (LDP)
  12. Lebuhraya Cheras – Kajang (Grand Saga)
  13. Lebuhraya Sungai Besi (Besraya)
  14. Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE)
  15. Lebuhraya Bertingkat Ampang – KL (AKLEH)
  16. Lebuhraya KL-Putrajaya (MEX)
  17. Lebuhraya Duta – Ulu Kelang (DUKE)

  30% toll rate discount:

  18. Projek Pengurusan Air Banjir Dan Terowong (Smart Tunnel)
  19. Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (Guthrie Corridor Expressway)
  20. Lebuhraya KL- Kuala Selangor (Latar)
  21. Lebuhraya Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (LLB)

  Once again, selamat hari raya, happy holidays, and stay safe!

   

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• Hari Raya 2022: heavy vehicle ban lifted in Labuan

  In Local News / By Paul Tan / 30 April 2022 5:54 pm / 0 comment

  

  Heavy vehicles will be allowed on public roads in Labuan again, following an appeal from the Labuan Freight Forwarders Association (LFFA) through Labuan MCA chief Datuk Chin Hon Vui.

  This is subject to the condition that they must follow a travel schedule that avoids clashing with peak hour private vehicle movement.

  According to Bernama, this was to facilitate the operation of the oil and gas industry which needs to complete loading activities for offshore operations.

  The road ban on heavy vehicles will continue to be in place in the rest of the country, as is the annual tradition in Malaysia to improve traffic during peak festival travel periods. We skipped this ban in 2020 and 2021 obviously because balik kampung was not allowed.

  Heavy vehicles are banned from April 30 to May 2, and from May 7-8. There are three categories of heavy vehicles with varying ban periods – Cat 1 is a full ban, Cat 2 lorries are banned from midnight to 8am, and Cat 3 construction vehicles are from 6pm to 6am within a 25 km radius from site.

  Not all lorries are banned though, just very heavy ones. Commercial vehicles carrying goods that are not specifically mentioned in the chart above are allowed to use the roads as normal during the ban period.

   

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• Selamat Hari Raya from paultan.org & Honda Malaysia!

  In Honda, Videos / By Matthew H Tong / 29 April 2022 10:27 am / 3 comments

  Hari Raya Aidilfitri is right around the corner. After two pandemic-stricken years, the atmosphere – or vibe, rather – this time is different. Malls are packed with the enthused, the Ramadan bazaars have been buzzing, and everyone is excited to make the balik kampung journey.

  It really is starting to feel like the good old days. But like every other festivity, there will be those who are unable to be with family (at least not physically), like Joe’s situation in our Hari Raya video.

  Whatever your circumstances are, we at paultan.org and Honda Malaysia wish you the warmest of celebrations, and we hope you make the best of this wonderful season.

  Spread the Raya love and joy far and wide however you can, and to whomever you care for. Have a blessed Hari Raya, and we hope you enjoy the video above. Once again, selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, everyone!

   

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• Hari Raya 2022: PLUS North-South Highway R&Rs open 24h during peak period – extra mobile toilets

  In Local News / By Danny Tan / 26 April 2022 2:23 pm / 4 comments

  

  You can say that with an expected two million vehicles per day on the North South Highway over the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri travel period, balik kampung and pulang ke bandar trips won’t be for the faint-hearted. But jam is part of the festival package that we’ve come to accept – for the family, it’s all worth it, right?

  It will be congested and journeys will take longer than usual, which means that R&Rs are all the more important. With that, PLUS has announced that all the R&R and lay-bys are “well prepared to welcome back all highway customers” and will be open 24 hours a day over the peak travel period.

  “Two years have passed since most families across the country have been able to see each other for Raya, and as we move into the endemic phase, our business partners at all R&Rs and lay-bys can conduct their businesses as usual to provide the delicious fare for everyone to enjoy, making their journey delightful balik kampung experience,” said PLUS COO Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.

  

  “With hundreds of F&B outlets and kiosks, suraus and public restrooms made available 24 hours, highway customers can be rest assured that PLUS has their best interest and comfort at heart,” the concessionaire said. PLUS added that RELA personnel will be at the rest stops to manage traffic flow, and there will be additional mobile toilets and water tankers to accommodate the influx of visitors.

  Don’t be surprised if an R&R is sealed off, as that’s a temporary measure to avoid overcrowding. If you encounter this, proceed to the next rest stop. Also note that there are toilets and suraus at toll plazas and highway exit points.

  “In the event of overcrowding that disrupts traffic flow along the highway mainline, some of these rest areas will be temporarily closed to manage the congestion and will be immediately re-opened once the crowd had dispersed and traffic flow resumes back to normal. In such an occasion, highway customers are advised to proceed to the next nearest rest stop. Most importantly to highlight that alternatively, public restrooms and suraus are also available at the toll plazas and highway exit points,” Zakaria said.

  

  

  Click to enlarge

  Of course, petrol stations along the NSE will also have F&B, toilet and surau facilities, and there are 109 stations along the highway. PLUS says that there will be free coffee at selected rest areas to refresh the weary traveller. Even if it’s not free, remember to buy a coffee or energy drink, or have a mini nap at the R&R if you’re feeling tired – safety first.

  Aside from the R&R initiatives, PLUS will be placing 1,500 customer service assistants at the highway’s 1,100 toll lanes to assist with payment problems. The company is also deploying a “HQ Reserve Team” at strategic locations and use RELA officers to assist in managing traffic. On our part, motorists must remember to use the same payment mode lane as the one you used when coming in – RFID in, RFID out.

  Earlier, PLUS announced that it will be setting up contraflow lanes and boosting the number of PLUSRonda patrol teams throughout the peak period. Vehicles that break down or are involved in accidents are a major cause of congestion, and PLUS’ plan is to remove such vehicles as soon as possible – the company will place tow trucks and cranes at critical locations to expedite the process of removing stranded vehicles, especially at climbing areas. Heavy goods-carrying lorries are banned during the festive period.

  Before you set off, check out the Raya travel time advisory schedule, which purpose is to distribute traffic and circumvent convergence of traffic entering the highway at the same time.

   

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