Activist Criticises Toll Discount Proposes Better Use Of Taxpayers Money

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A road safety and sustainable transport activist has suggested that estimated government spending on compensations to highway concessionaries for “toll-free travel” should instead be channelled to more long-term infrastructure projects.
In a statement, former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research board member Shahrim Tamrin cited a projected amount of up to RM640 million by the end of this year and proposed reallocating the funds to initiatives that could benefit the public more effectively, including:
Purchasing new train sets to improve the limited service frequency between Arau, Butterworth, and Ipoh.
Building or repairing bridges in Sabah to provide better school access for children and enhance connectivity for rural communities.
Providing free public transport for secondary students to reduce reliance on motorcycles for commuting.
Allocating more funds to the Road Department to repair federal roads and improve safety in districts with the highest road fatalities.
Elaborating, Shahrim argued that funding free tolls is unnecessary as it would contribute to greater congestion and divert resources from critical public projects.
He also claimed the government has lost a golden opportunity for fiscal reforms by backtracking on its decision not to implement toll discounts for the upcoming Chinese New Year travels.
Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi“It would have been a good start to 2025 for the government not to indulge in political-economic factors behind car-centric policy and save taxpayers money for other meaningful purposes,” he said.
Targeted approach
On Jan 21, Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that toll-free travel would end in favour of a more targeted approach.
His statement was supported by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who advised motorists to plan their journeys accordingly.
However, a day later, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet was still discussing the matter. By Jan 24, the government announced a 50 percent toll discount for Class 1 private vehicles, excluding border crossings.
Shahrim questioned whether poor communication was to blame for the reversal.
“There is every possibility that Nanta’s authority was undermined.
“As if there was a breakdown of communication among the cabinet members and those in charge of communication about the collective decision reached by the cabinet on the subject of compensation to highway concessionaires,” he claimed. - Mkini

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