Ahmad Maslan Govt Won T Bear Financial Implications Of Mlff Toll System

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PARLIAMENT | Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) has assured that the government will not bear any financial implications from the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system.
Ahmad affirmed that the government had agreed that the new direction for the MLFF project will feature a business-to-business (B2B) model where relevant service providers are welcome to engage and negotiate with 33 existing highway concessionaires.
“The MLFF will be implemented without involving any financial implications to the government…the government has decided that this is a B2B matter and will not involve even a single sen of financial implication to the government.
“The question of how many billions (of ringgit to be spent by the government) does not arise because we will not bear any cost when the MLFF is installed and implemented at 33 toll plazas in two years,” the deputy minister told the Dewan Rakyat today.
ADSAhmad was responding to a query from PAS MP Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) on the status of the MLFF system, where all exit and entry points on highways will be converted into barrier-free lanes to reduce congestion and ease traffic flow.
PAC proceeding
Works Ministry secretary-general Azman Ibrahim previously told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that under the B2B model proposed by the ministry, concession companies can invite any firm and issue a request for proposal to carry out the project.
He also stressed that the ministry’s principle is that any MLFF implementation must be fully carried out by the concessionaires, without government involvement, and that there must be no increase in toll rates as a result of the MLFF implementation.
His remarks, conveyed to the PAC during a proceeding held on May 20, came after a joint venture between Konsortium Jaringan Selangor Sdn Bhd (KJS) and SEP Synergy (M) Sdn Bhd failed to reach an agreement with highway concessionaires by Dec 16 last year.
The joint venture, dubbed KJS-SEP Synergy, was initially appointed to develop a proposal for a barrierless toll system across 33 highways nationwide.
In its recommendations for the MLFF project, the PAC had called on the Works Ministry to ensure the implementation of the MLFF system will not incur any financial implications for the government or consumers once the final direction of the project is determined.
RFID lanes
Ahmad further said that the Works Ministry, through the Malaysian Highway Authority, continuously monitors the performance of existing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) lanes on highways.
This, he said, is done by ensuring that highway operators carry out more frequent fine-tuning works at the RFID lanes to improve system performance.
“Awareness campaigns are also being carried out to remind users to maintain sufficient balance (in their preferred mode of toll payment) while promoting the open payment toll collection system and enhancing traffic flow,” he added.
Noting that the MLFF system has already been implemented in several countries, including Singapore, Ahmad said such a method also requires discipline and ethical responsibility from road users.
“For the MLFF, the combination of RFID technology and automatic number plate recognition measures will be utilised. We will definitely track down those who don’t pay (tolls).
“Notices will be issued to demand payment, and perhaps in the future, there will be specific methods - for example, being unable to renew road tax if tolls remain unpaid,” he said. - Mkini

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