Festive Toll Discount: A Relief For Road Users

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) --The 50 per cent toll discount during festive seasons has been well-received by road users, who view it as an effective way to reduce travel cost and ease congestion.

Frequent travellers, like tuition teacher Ariff Ahmad Azam, 40, appreciate the financial relief, noting that while it's not a full waiver, the discount significantly eases expenses for trips to Pasir Putih, Kelantan.

“The toll discount doesn’t put a heavy strain on users like me. Even though it’s not free, 50 per cent off really helps, especially when travelling back and forth during festive seasons,” he told Bernama today.

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Temerloh (Pahang born Freelance photographer, Adam Abdullah Ashar, 32, believes the initiative will encourage better travel planning and help distribute traffic more evenly, unlike previous years with full toll waivers, which caused massive traffic congestion on highways, this balanced approach helps avoid bottlenecks.

Meanwhile, according to Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd Founder and Director Dr Geoffrey Williams, a full toll waiver could put pressure on government funds, making it harder to support other public welfare programs and initiatives.

“Instead of fully waiving toll charges, the savings can be redirected to other beneficial programmes such as financial aid, grants, and infrastructure development,” he said.

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Yesterday, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi was reported as saying the 50 per cent toll discount will be implemented during all festive seasons this year as a mechanism to replace the previous toll-free initiative by the government.

He said this measure would reduce the cost borne by the government in compensating highway concessionaires from RM160 million to RM80 million.

-- BERNAMA