PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said free tolls during festive seasons do not solve traffic congestion on toll highways.
He said it was important for road users to change their behaviour and plan their trips when the festive season arrives.
"The amount of reimbursement in the form of compensation by the government to the toll concessionaire is more than RM35mil per day.
"Although it does not involve direct cash compensation, the concession has to be extended, and this does not solve the problem of congestion on toll highways," he said when asked to comment on the government's decision to end the provision of free toll-in conjunction with the festive season.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said this to the media after the Rural Business Challenge (RBC) 2.0 Winners Award Ceremony here on Tuesday (Jan 21).
He said the decision to stop the provision of free tolls during the festive season was the decision of the Cabinet following the recommendation of Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
"So in that situation, what toll users should do (is) we must schedule our return to our destination, and to return to the city or their home," he said.
He said the behaviour of road users must change from getting discounts or being given free tolls as a "gift".
"When there are no 'gifts', we (road users) must change the way we drive (plan trips) when the festive season arrives,” he said.
Alexander Nanta was reported to have said that the decision to stop the provision of free toll in conjunction with the festive season had been decided at a cabinet meeting last year.
However, he said, the government would replace the free toll with a more targeted approach. – Bernama
