[UPDATED] SmartTAG, Touch ‘n Go toll lanes here to stay

KUALA LUMPUR – SmartTAG payment lanes will be reinstated at PLUS Malaysia Bhd toll plazas following public complaints over the implementation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) payment system.

PLUS said in a statement that it will reinstate 16 toll plazas with 19 Touch ‘n Go lanes into SmartTAG lanes by January 25.

It said this is being done in anticipation of the Chinese New Year travel exodus.

The operator said another 18 toll plazas will convert their 24 lanes to SmartTAG lanes February 19 onwards.

PLUS added that it has committed on-the-ground teams working around the clock to optimise system performance and sharpen detection at all toll plazas. 

“Quicker ‘double arm’ lane barriers will also be deployed at plazas with high traffic to ensure traffic will be able to be managed and cleared quickly,” it said.

“Additionally, to assist our highway customers, visual RFID detection zones will be painted on the lanes to ensure customers are able to position their vehicles and ensure optimum detection.” 

Meanwhile, PLUS has assigned personnel at all 158 RFID lanes across 74 toll plazas to assist customers who are stuck at the lanes using portable detection devices. 

“There are 24 RFID fitment centres (FCs) along PLUS highways and 35 at other locations. The full list of FC can be obtained at Touch ‘n Go website.

“Customers experiencing RFID detection issues at PLUS highways will receive a Touch ‘n Go coupon from our personnel and advised to proceed to the nearest fitment centre for assessment and Touch N Go will replace the RFID tag for free if found faulty.”

PLUS also apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused at the Juru-Skudai stretch.

On December 16, the government had announced that the RFID system would begin operating at all toll plazas at the Juru-Skudai stretch of the North-South Expressway starting January 15. 

TNG and SmartTAG lanes were supposed to be eventually phased out to allow for the opening of more RFID lanes. However, the RFID toll gates have received public criticism for causing traffic jams due to issues with the system.

Recently, drivers at the Sg Besi, Bandar Seri Putra, and Subang toll plazas were stuck in traffic standstills, which started at 7am and lasted into the evening rush hour. – The Vibes, January 20, 2022