Call for savings from ending toll-free festivities to be invested in public transport

PETALING JAYA: Public funds saved from not providing toll-free travel during festive periods should be funnelled into improving the public transport network throughout the country, say motorists and an expert.

They say repurposing these funds will benefit the low-income group as opposed to the blanket subsidies for toll-free travel that benefit even the rich.

Motorist Yusof Awang said that the government’s decision was unlikely to put a dent in his travel plans.

“I have rarely not paid a toll when returning to Kelantan because the toll-free periods are usually when the highway is the most congested,” said the owner of a printing firm in Shah Alam.

“For an elderly driver like me, I want to avoid jams so I would rather pay than get stuck in a crawl,” said the 57-year-old who originally hails from Kota Baru.

Pahang native Najib Abdullah said he agreed with the government’s aim of ending blanket toll subsidies because it should benefit those who really needed them.

“Right now, the toll-free period also benefits those who can actually afford to pay for it,” said the 47-year-old father of three who lives in Kuala Lumpur but returns to Raub, Pahang during the Hari Raya festivals.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the government is sticking by its decision to no longer provide subsidies for toll-free travel during festive periods.

Transportation expert Wan Agyl Wan Hassan praised the government’s decision as the toll-free periods did not improve travel in the long run.

“For years, it has created a chaotic rush, overwhelming Malaysia’s highways with millions of vehicles daily, leaving travellers stuck in long, stressful traffic jams,” said Wan Agyl, who founded the think tank MY Mobility Vision.

Instead of spending these subsidies on highway operators, the government could spend this money on improving the number and frequency of train and bus services during festive periods.

“Festive seasons bring increased demand for mobility, and this is the perfect time to demonstrate the impact of smarter investments,” he said.

“Solving the last-mile problem could make public transport more appealing and alleviate the holiday travel chaos,” he said adding that such initiatives must be coupled with better communication on where these subsidies went.

“Without a clear and actionable plan to reinvest these funds into better mobility options, the policy risks alienating the public.

“That said, this decision could be a turning point if handled with foresight and care.

“It’s a chance for the government to lead the way in shaping a more sustainable and efficient transportation system – one that genuinely works for everyone, not just during festivals, but all year-round.