Toll-free travel during festivals unlikely this year, says Nanta

KUALA LANGAT: Toll-free travel during festivals will be unlikely this year based on a Cabinet decision, says Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said the government decided that last year would be the last time the administration provided subsidies for highway users to travel toll-free on certain days during major festivals.

“This is since we decided to streamline the subsidies that we give out as we are moving towards targeted subsidies (to lower-income groups),” he told reporters here today.

“If we change this decision, it will be based on other considerations... but currently, that is the Cabinet decision.”

Last year and in 2023, the unity government paid subsidies to certain toll concessionaires to provide toll-free travel during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali and Chrismas.

On Dec 23 and 24, the government spent RM38 mil on subsidies to highway operators.

For the 2023 Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, Nanta said, the government forked out RM93mil to the concessionaires of 33 major highways.