Pull up to any toll plaza in Malaysia, and you’ll have to make a decision to pick between one of three different options currently being offered to motorists for the purposes of paying their tolls — by using your Touch’n Go card, a SmartTAG reader, or an RFID strip on your car. Regardless of whichever option you decide to go with, all three services are offered by the very same service provider, namely TNG Digital Sdn Bhd.
5 highways to offer open payment system by September
In other words, the company has a monopoly over the toll fare collection system across all major highway networks across the country. But that is apparently set to end by September, as it has been announced by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi that five highways will debut a new open payment system.
As reported by local newswire service BERNAMA, this will allow motorists to not only rely on the traditional modes of toll payment offered by TNG, but also introduces the ability to issue contactless payments through either their debit or credit cards.
“The implementation of this open payment system is one of the initial initiatives as a transition towards the multi-lane-fast flow (MLFF) system that is being actively worked on,“ said Nanta in a post on his official Facebook.
Among the highways selected for the pilot testing of this new system include:
- Sungai Besi Expressway
- New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
- Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
- Guthrie Corridor Expressway
- Penang Bridge
Ending of Touch’n Go monopoly
As for the MLFF Proof of Concept (POC), Nanta says that it will be carried out sometime before the end of October, with locations to be finalised imminently. The formal implementation of the system will be carried out in stages by the third quarter of 2024 at the very latest.
It is hoped that both the MLFF and open payment system will aid in ending Touch’n Go monopoly within this segment of the market, while opening up more opportunities for other e-wallet providers to participate in the space.
“Healthy competition will exist among industry players that will open up more options for highway users to make toll payments thus providing them with convenience.
“I hope that this effort will get the cooperation of all parties and provide comprehensive benefits to all, especially the people and highway users in this country,“ he added.
Similarly, the very same open payment system is also being mulled by Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke, who said that it may potentially be introduced to public transportation soon. It’s worth noting that gantries in some LRT stations, such as in Gombak and Wangsa Maju, already come with debit card readers.
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