Media Press Release

Motorists to enjoy toll-free and discounts during CNY period

By YUEN MEI KENG and ZANI SALLEH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KAJANG: Motorists using the Kuala Lumpur-Karak and the East Coast highways will not be charged any toll for certain hours in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations while other highways will offer discounts of between 5% and 20%.

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the move was a gesture of goodwill or “ang pow” to motorists returning home to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Sunday.

The toll-free periods are between 11.30pm on Feb 11 and 4.30am on Feb 12, and between 11.30pm on Feb 15 and 4.30am on Feb 16.

Among other highways that are offering discounts on Feb 14 are the North-South Highway (PLUS), Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sprint Highway, New Pantai Highway (NPE), Putrajaya Highway, Duke Highway, Kesas Highway, Silk Highway and Besraya Highway.

The ministry has carried out repair works at 10 accident-prone roads throughout the country which involved a cost of between RM200,000 and RM1mil.

“As a result of the repair works, there were zero accidents at these roads last year compared with 55 in 2008,” he told a press conference after launching a highway safety campaign at the Kajang-Seremban Expressway’s Kajang South toll plaza.

On the review of toll rate on all highways, he said the report has been forwarded to the Cabinet and it would take about six weeks for a final decision.

In PETALING JAYA, PLUS Expressways Bhd managing director Noorizah Abdul Hamid said highway users will be given a discount of 20% when they used PLUS highways between midnight and 7am during the Chinese New Year holidays.
Cars, excluding taxis, will be given an additional 10% discount on top of the existing 10% rebate given everyday during the off-peak hours.

“The discount will be given on Feb 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 in conjunction with the celebrations,” she said in a statement yesterday.

The discount will be applicable at the North-South Expressway, Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, ELITE and Linkedua but excluded toll plazas near the borders such as Tanjung Kupang, Johor Baru Causeway and Bukit Kayu Hitam.

The additional festive season toll discounts are offered during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas to reflect the 1Malaysia concept.

PLUS has spent almost RM20mil on toll discounts since PLUS Travel Incentive programme was introduced in January last year.