Thousands jam toll plaza sales office

BUTTERWORTH: Thousands of people made a last-minute dash to the Penang Bridge toll plaza sales office in Prai to buy Touch ’n Go cards before the implementation of the fully electronic system at 12 toll plazas nationwide from noon today.

Office clerk Tan Lai Ghim, 42, said he took leave to get a PLUSMiles card.

“It’s troublesome having to wait for so long but hopefully the electronic system will help ease traffic congestion at the bridge,” she said.

Businessman Ismail Ghazafar, 56, from Kulim, had to wait for an hour before getting his PLUSMiles card and SmartTAG.

Ready to go: Motorist Izuwan Nor Wahid collecting several Touch ’n Go cards at the Penang Bridege toll plaza office. -Bernama

“I think there are still many who have yet to buy the cards, especially those who are not aware of the new system,” he said.

Beginning today, five toll plazas in Penang and Kedah including the Penang Bridge will only accept the PLUSMiles and Touch ’n Go cards or the SmartTAG device.

Motorists using the bridge will enjoy a special RM5.60 rate with Touch ’n Go cards bought at the Pe­­nang Bridge office. Others have to pay RM7.

For bikers, it is RM1.10 for Pe­­nangites and RM1.40 for those from other states.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd general manager Norbayati Manap said that since July, they had sold about 150,000 cards and estimated that about 90% of users had gone electronic.

“On the Penang Bridge, we record about 82,000 transactions per day, followed by 40,000 in Kubang Semang, 34,000 in Lunas, 22,000 in Jitra and 3,000 in Bukit Kayu Hitam.

“Those still without the card will need to buy it from our sales office or at designated toll booths,” she told reporters yesterday.

In conjunction with the new cashless system, there will be a 20% rebate for transactions done at all the five toll plazas in Penang and Kedah from today till Dec 31.

“Those who have Penang Bridge’s special discount are eligible for the rebate at the other toll plazas.

“But if the user is already receiving the discount at Penang Bridge, then the rebate will only be applicable at the other toll plazas.

“The rebate will be credited into their cards the next time the credit is topped up,” she said.

For further details, call the Malaysian Highway Authority hotline at 1-800-88-7752 or any highway service centre.

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