Motorists seek better incentives from highway operator

KUALA LUMPUR: Netizens are clamouring for better deals, packages and electronic systems following PLUS Malaysia Bhd’s (PLUS) announcement that highways operated by them would go cashless effective April 26.

Many want PLUS and other highway operators to subsidise and implement frequent users rebates the way Singapore does for its Mass Rapid Transit trains and buses.

Facebook user Azmi JS said Plus users should get a discount depending on how much they reloaded.

Jinj Hoh said a lot of cash was demanded from toll users up front with no incentives offered in exchange.

“Anyone with PLUS cards should get a discount,” she said, adding that as the concessionaire had a monopoly, users were always on the losing end.

Fauzi G said Touch ’n Go lagged far behind compared with Singapore and Hong Kong where similar cards were well received by merchants.

Wira Wan said the gates should be replaced by gantry systems like in Singapore to allow cars to travel normally if the concessionaire was serious about tackling traffic congestion.

Michael Mah concurred, saying the toll booths offering top-up services caused long queues.

Justin Joseph A said the cards should be made reloadable via ebanking.

Mugyilan Rajan said there was a need for highway operators to open more top-up counters.

On Thursday, PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail announced that PLUS highways would go cashless and only accept PLUSMiles cards, Touch ’n Go cards and SmartTAGs.

He said the final phase of the cashless initiative would involve 71 toll plazas between Juru and Skudai on the North-South Expressway.

Azman said a SmartTAG and a Touch ’n Go lane could accommodate up to 1,000 and 600 transactions, respectively, in an hour.

A cash lane can only cater to 180 motorists in the same period.