Barrier-free toll goal could hit speed bump, warn experts

 

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KUALA LUMPUR: Widespread toll evasion could undermine Malaysia's ambitions to modernise its highway network through the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll collection system, experts said.

They said weak enforcement and poor motorist compliance may threaten the success of the system.

Universiti Teknologi Mara head of postgraduate studies at the Malaysian Institute of Transport, Dr Abdul Khabir Rahmat, said toll evasion must be addressed seriously.

"If non-compliance still occurs under the toll system, which has physical barriers and payment controls, enforcement challenges under MLFF will become even more complex."

It was reported that about 95 per cent of toll evasion cases on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and the East Coast Expressway since 2023 involve Class One vehicles, which are private vehicles with two axles and three or four wheels, such as sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.

AFA Prime Bhd general manager Ismaliza Ibrahim said 2,122 letters of demand were issued between 2023 and 2025, amounting to RM21,181 for offences at toll plazas.

She said toll evasion offences continued despite enforcement and monitoring measures.

Khabir said MLFF was a modern toll collection approach that allowed vehicles to pass through highways without stopping at toll plazas, relying on technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), electronic identification systems and real-time digital payment processing.

"International experience showed MLFF could reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, lower carbon emissions and increase highway capacity without requiring major infrastructure expansion.

"However, implementation depended not only on technology, but also on robust digital enforcement, integrated data systems and effective payment recovery mechanisms.

"MLFF is not merely about removing toll barriers, but about transforming the enforcement philosophy from physical control to digital compliance."

Meanwhile, Professor Dr Munzilah Md Rohani of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia's Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment said toll evasion should be viewed as a behavioural issue rather than a technological failure.

"Even under the gated toll system, some motorists still manage to evade payment.

"Under MLFF, every transaction and vehicle movement will be digitally recorded, so failure to pay should be treated as an intentional offence, not a system weakness."

Munzilah said one of the biggest risks of widespread toll evasion would be revenue leakages, which could affect concessionaires' ability to maintain highways, uphold safety standards and fund future infrastructure upgrades.

She said enforcement agencies could become overwhelmed if unpaid toll cases surged, especially if penalties remained too lenient to act as an effective deterrent.

"Malaysia often gives too much discretion to offenders, making it difficult to cultivate discipline among motorists.

"Enforcement may need to become stricter and more decisive."

Munzilah said Malaysia could emulate countries such as Australia and Taiwan as examples, that combine ANPR technology, automatic payment deductions and strict penalties for non-payment.

She said Malaysia should adopt a dual-layer enforcement model combining RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and ANPR, integrated with the Road Transport Department's database, to strengthen compliance and reduce fraud.

Beyond enforcement, she said flexible payment options, including direct debit, e-wallet integration, mobile apps and incentive programmes, could encourage greater public compliance.

Munzilah stressed the need for safeguards to protect motorists from technical glitches, including grace periods, payment notifications and accessible dispute resolution mechanisms.

"MLFF should not only be seen as a technological upgrade for highways, but as part of a broader transformation towards a more modern and responsible driving culture in Malaysia." - NST