KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya has asked PLUS Malaysia Bhd and Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd (TnG) to justify the RM35 price tag for each radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the two companies have been told to present their rationale for pricing the RFID stickers as such.
He was quoted by Utusan Malaysia that the reduction in price will be decided after the presentation of the reports.
“We are looking into the costs (of the RFID stickers) and have asked PLUS and TnG to present the details so that they can be evaluated with the Finance Ministry.
“We want to know the justification for pricing it at RM35 each. Otherwise, we will ensure that there will be a reduction or that it is priced reasonably.”
He said this in a press conference after inspecting the Kuala Terengganu bypass project today.
Following the public backlash against the RFID implementation system, PLUS will reinstate 16 toll plazas with 19 Touch ‘n Go lanes into SmartTAG lanes by tomorrow.
The operator said another 18 toll plazas will convert their 24 lanes into SmartTAG lanes from February 19 onwards.
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.
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 on 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 24, 2022
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