KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Malaysia Bhd will soon charge vehicles entering Jalan Genting Highlands.
The company said they would provide more information once details are ready on the charge to use the private road.
It said the charge is necessary due to the steep and escalating costs of maintaining the 24km-long road and its slopes, which have been borne by the company since the 1960s.
Privately built by Genting Malaysia on difficult, mountainous terrain, Jalan Genting Highlands provides safe access to Resorts World Genting and other mountain destinations beyond Genting Malaysia’s properties.
“Heavy usage on Jalan Genting Highlands has caused a tremendous amount of wear and tear, and requires constant maintenance to ensure the safety of the road users,” said the company in a statement.
On the “user pays” principle, Genting Malaysia said the private road charge is the most sustainable path to defray the cost of upkeep, repairs, maintenance and other unforeseen incidents.
This is to ensure the road continues to be safe for all users and also to provide access to the entire Genting Highlands community, businesses, millions of tourists and the public from all over the country, it added.
The company said this is a private initiative on a private road on private land.
“Genting Malaysia takes the responsibility of maintaining the safety of both the roads and the slopes seriously. Working on mountainous terrain is challenging, hazardous and expensive, but it is essential to ensure the safety of the road and the slopes for continuous improvement for all users.”
It said it also employs teams stationed at mid-hill and hilltop on standby around the clock for any contingencies, with trained emergency response teams in case of mishaps and accidents.
The company stressed that this crucial road has catalysed the tourism industry here, contributing opportunities for enterprise and employment, creating a vibrant local economy and contributing to the Pahang state economy as well as the national economy.
Jalan Genting Highlands has enabled other mountainside destinations outside of the Genting Malaysia group to emerge, contributing to a dynamic tourism industry, the company added.
