KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): The government is set to table a Cabinet paper on the implementation of the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system soon to seek further input and consensus, according to Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian).

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Ahmad said discussions are ongoing, and matters concerning costs and other details are still being deliberated.

“Implementing a single MLFF system is quite challenging because there are 33 highway concessionaires managing over 2,000km of highways. About half of these are under PLUS [PLUS Malaysia Bhd],” he said during the oral question-and-answer session.

PLUS Malaysia is 51%-owned by the Employees Provident Fund, while the remaining 49% is held by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, he noted.

PLUS also owns Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd, which provides electronic toll collection systems for most highway concessionaires in the country.

Ahmad was responding to a supplementary question from Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), who asked about the government’s specific plans for the MLFF implementation, including cost standardisation for trial runs and the need for a unified system across all concessionaires.

The Edge Malaysia weekly reported in its Feb 3-9, 2025 edition that highway concessionaires, led by PLUS, are developing their own MLFF systems, amid proposals by non-concessionaires to provide their systems to be adopted on highways in the country.

PLUS, the country’s largest highway operator, is expected to commence its MLFF trial by April, while Amanah Lebuhraya Rakyat is also likely to initiate pilot runs, according to industry sources.

The weekly article, quoting sources, also reported that Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas), which is Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s highway concession division, is one of the early movers and has started trial runs using an MLFF system.

Prolintas has six city highways in its stable. Of the six, four highways — Guthrie Corridor Expressway, Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, Kemuning Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (Silk) — are listed under Prolintas Infra Business Trust Bhd (KL:PLINTAS).

The MLFF proposal had previously caused friction between the government and highway concessionaires after a joint venture (JV) between Konsortium Jaringan Selangor Sdn Bhd (KJS) and SEP Synergy (M) Sdn Bhd attempted to introduce the system.

The JV was given until Dec 16, 2024, to secure agreements with highway concessionaires for the MLFF rollout. However, the deadline lapsed without an agreement due to resistance from the concessionaires.

KJS, a wholly owned subsidiary of YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR), holds a 60% stake in the JV, while the remaining 40% is held by Bumiputera company SEP Synergy.

Earlier, Ahmad said that PBH Asset Management Sdn Bhd has been appointed to undertake maintenance works on the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak.

The company, appointed in September last year, has been tasked with carrying out maintenance work for three years at a cost of RM69 million.

“These works cover routine maintenance, periodic pavement works, and non-periodic pavement works. Potholes must be patched within 24 hours in line with the zero-pothole policy implemented on federal roads, including toll-free highways in Sarawak,” he said.

Ahmad was responding to a question from Roy Angau Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu), who sought details on the government’s maintenance plans for the highway.

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PLUS, Prolintas to start trial runs on MLFF