MLFF application will require law changes, says PSKLM

KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to the law are necessary to enable the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) implementation at toll plazas by 2018, say Association of Highway Concessionaires (PSKLM), an organisation comprising 23 highway concessionaires.
“We are waiting for the government to change the relevant law to do away with the boom gate existence at toll booths before highway concessionaires can fully implement the MLFF at toll plazas,” PSKLM president Datuk Zainudin Kadir told theSun.
theSun had reported on Monday that Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Works Ministry were convinced that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) as a new toll payment system could be implemented by the second quarter of next year ahead of the scheduled 2018.
PSKLM vice-president Sazally Saidi said that LLM has formed an inter-agency technical committee to look into the technical aspects and legal matters to implement the hi-tech scanning system without having to require vehicles to reduce the travelling speed at the electronic toll lanes.
“In order for highway operators to execute the MLFF, applicable law must be required,” said Sazally, who is also the group chief executive officer of Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd, the operators of Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) and and Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL (Sprint) Highway.
Zainuddin said several highway concessionaires in the country have been conducting technical tests on RFID to ensure its viability before the proposed pilot stage next year.
“The tests have been ongoing for quite some time. We must ensure that it is smooth and identify any technical issues,” said Zainuddin, who is also the group chief executive officer of Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd, the concessionaires of Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) and Kemuning-Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA).
Plus Malaysia Berhad managing director Datuk Noorizah Hamid said the ultimate objective is to fully implement the electronic toll collection (ETC) by 2020 as part of the MLLF objective.
“We are slowly doing the ETC concept at several of our toll plazas including the RFID testing. We need to have a very high confidence level on the testing for RFID and once it is endorsed by the ministry, we would be ready,” she said.