PLUS spends RM3 mln for electronic payment system

Chief Operating Officer, Mohammad Fuad Khusairi said PLUS hoped the electronic payment system using PLUSMiles, Touch 'n Go or SmartTAG cards could be implemented smoothly and effectively.

He said the implementation of the system at all toll plazas nationwide was aimed at ensuring smooth payment and reduce congestion at the toll plazas.

"We have carried out dissemination and promotion for the electronic payment system implementation in stages since last February at toll plazas across the country.

"We are also prepared in the event of a power outage which will affect electronic payment," he told the media after a briefing on the implementation of the full electronic toll collection system here, today.

Also present were PLUS General Manager of Operations, Norbayati Manap and PLUS Head of Marketing and Communications, Rosdi Effendi Mohammed Effendi.

Elaborating, Mohammad Fuad said the implementation of the collection system was undertaken in stages since 2008 in the northern and southern region of Peninsular Malaysia, including Federal Highway Route 2, namely Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau Toll Plazas, and is now entering the final implementation stage involving 71 toll plazas from Juru to Skudai beginning April 26.

He said based on a study, the electronic payment system at toll plazas could improve lane capacity and payment transactions more efficiently.

"For every hour, some 180 vehicles are able to carry out payments at any one time in one lane compared to 600 vehicles per hour using Touch 'n Go cards and 1,000 vehicles per hour using SmartTAG," he said.

He said a total of 9,200 reload locations were available nationwide including at automated teller machines, 24-hour shops, shopping malls and petrol stations.

Out of this, some 34 petrol stations along highways in the country would not charge the 50 sen charge for every reload carried out by PLUS electronic card holders.

Mohammad Fuad also said the transition to the electronic payment system at all toll plazas would not involve dismissal of workers especially toll workers.

"Every year, there are workers who leave but they are not dismissed because of the transition to electronic payment. All toll workers of about 2,000 will be redeployed to the management and administrative departments as the transition will cause more work including customer data management," he said.

He said PLUS also encouraged more highway users to use their identity cards which have the Touch 'n Go function if they do not want to buy the PLUS card.