Govt wants Touch 'n Go to reduce pricing of RFID stickers, says Fadillah

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has asked Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd to reduce the RM35 price of radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers, says Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

“The Government has requested that Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd review the costs (related to RFID stickers) for the purpose of reducing the selling price.

“Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd is the service provider for the toll collection system on all highways in Malaysia, and appointments of RFID tag contractors or suppliers are managed entirely by the company,” Fadillah said during the oral question-and-answer session in Parliament on Tuesday (March 1).

Earlier, Datuk Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (PN-Sabak Bernam) had asked the minister about the implementation of toll payment through RFID at all closed tolls on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) and East Coast Highway 2 (LPT 2).

He asked if the RFID system could overcome congestion at all toll plazas and if the Touch ’n Go card and SmartTag would continue to be used on PLUS highways and LPT 2.

To date, Fadillah said, RFID toll collection has been implemented on 28 highways, with the East Coast Highway Phase 1 (LPT1) and LPT 2 expected to follow suit from the end of June.

He said RFID implementation was in line with the ministry's aim to introduce the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system using RFID technology, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2025.

He added that the ministry had also examined the barrier-free toll system such as the electronic road pricing (ERP) system used in Singapore but decided against it.

“Due to cost constraints and implementation that will burden the people, this system will not be (introduced) in Malaysia.

“RFID technology compared to the Infrared technology used for SmartTag devices is the more appropriate choice because it uses radio waves that have wider detection limits, in addition to a lower cost,” he said.

He added that RFID technology had been widely adopted by most advanced countries using the MLFF system.