KUALA LANGAT: There will be no more toll-free travel during festive periods this year based on a Cabinet decision that was made in 2024, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The Works Minister said the government decided that last year would be the last time the administration provided subsidies for highway users to travel toll-free on certain days during major festivals.
The decision was in line with the unity government’s policy of ending blanket subsidies in favour of those targeted at low-income households and vulnerable groups, he added.
“The Cabinet in 2024 decided that when it comes to toll-free travel during festival periods, 2024 would be the last year,” Nanta Linggi told reporters here.
“This is since we decided to streamline the subsidies we give out as we are moving towards targeted subsidies,” he added.
“If we change this decision, it will be based on other considerations that will be discussed, but currently, this is the Cabinet’s decision.”
Last year and in 2023, the unity government paid subsidies to certain toll concessionaires to provide toll-free travel during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali and Christmas.
For example, during the toll-free Christmas festive travel period from Dec 23 to 24 last year, the government spent RM38mil on subsidies to highway operators.
For the 2023 Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, the government forked out RM93mil to 33 major highways so that users could benefit from toll-free travel in April of that year.
