KUALA LUMPUR: The fee to be levied soon on motorists entering Jalan Genting Highlands should not be called a toll but a vehicle charge, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Deputy Works Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the term “toll” is confusing, as Jalan Genting Highlands is built on private land.
“Do not use the term ‘toll,’ it will cause confusion with the 33 toll concessions currently operating on highways in the country. I hope it can be changed to ‘vehicle charges’ instead,” he said during the ministry’s winding-up speech at the committee stage of the Supply Bill 2026.
Ahmad was responding to a supplementary question from Young Syefura Othman (PH–Bentong), who wanted to know what measures the government would take to prevent similar charges being imposed on roads built on private land but largely accessible to the public.
He added that since Jalan Genting Highlands is a privately owned road, jurisdiction over the land and road lies with the state government and the Bentong Municipal Council.
“The Works Minister (Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi) has issued a statement on this matter, stating that it is a private road and the federal government has no authority.
“It is for the state government and the Bentong Municipal Council to ensure the implementation (of the vehicle charges),” he added.
Ahmad also said that those who must use the private road, such as workers, should not be subjected to any vehicle charges.
“What are the consequences if Genting Highlands decides to impose charges? If the fees are high, tourists will go elsewhere, and that is a risk they have to face.
“Personally, I believe that those who use the private road to go to work should not be charged. The Aminuddin Baki Institute is also located there; they should not be charged.
“There are also other landowners in the area to whom Genting may have sold land; the matter (of vehicle charges) should have been discussed with them,” he added.
Last Thursday, Genting Malaysia Bhd announced that it will soon charge vehicles entering Jalan Genting Highlands, citing steep and escalating costs of maintaining the 24km road and its slopes, which the company has borne since the 1960s.
Privately built by Genting Malaysia on challenging mountainous terrain, Jalan Genting Highlands provides safe access to Resorts World Genting and other mountain destinations beyond Genting Malaysia’s properties.
