Trial period for RFID use on highways critical for later expansion, says Fadillah

KUALA LUMPUR: The current implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at toll plazas along the North-South Highway (PLUS) is crucial to ensure that the system works efficiently before its usage is expanded, the Dewan Negara was told.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that during the trial period, any problems including administrative and legal matters would be identified and resolved so that the system would not become a burden to motorists.

"This is what we are looking at and working on at the level of the Malaysian Highway Authority and Works Ministry,” he said during Question and Answer time in the Dewan Negara today.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Razali Idris, who wanted to know whether the ministry would consider placing the SmartTag and RFID systems under a common lane as they are now separated.

Fadillah said the suppliers for the two toll payment systems were different and as such the technology used was different.

"They are separated because the tag readers might be ‘confused’ if placed in the same lane,” he added.

Fadillah said the RFID was priced at RM35 each, including installation, but the government had asked Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd to look into the possibility of making it cheaper.

Fadillah said this in reply to the original question from Senator Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, who asked if the highway authority had any legal basis to compel motorists to install RFID at RM35 when the Touch 'n Go (TnG) card only cost RM10.

"The current implementation of RFID gives an option to motorists and the highway authorities are maintaining other payment modes like the Touch 'n Go card and SmartTag,” he said.

He added that the introduction of RFID was in line with the government’s plan to switch to the multi-lane free flow system by 2025.