KUALA LUMPUR: Barrier-free toll gantries will be introduced via business-to-business deals among highway concessionaires without financial implications for the government, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

The Deputy Works Minister said a total of 33 toll highway operators will hold discussions with their preferred multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) provider companies over the next two years.

“The government has decided that the implementation of MLFF will be business to business,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He was replying to Setiu MP Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir who asked about the implementation status of the MLFF and its financial implications.

The PAS leader also highlighted the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendations, saying the implementation of the MLFF would cost RM3.46bil.

Affirming that there will be no costs for the government to bear, Ahmad said a Cabinet paper was presented in July on the MLFF implementation.

“The ministry remains committed to implementing toll collection via MLFF to prioritise comfort and convenience for road users.

“The direction now opens opportunities for service provider companies to directly negotiate with the 33 existing toll highway concession companies on a business-to-business basis to facilitate the implementation of the MLFF,” he said.

Ahmad also disclosed that a highway concessionaire had conducted a pilot test of the MLFF with the collaboration of private companies.

To a question by Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abd Wahab on action to be taken against toll evaders after the MLFF is introduced, Ahmad said the system would be equipped with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.

The ANPR will allow the authorities to trace motorists who evaded paying toll, he added.

“Notices will also be issued to toll evaders and they might not be allowed to renew their road tax,” he said.

On the issue of RFID lanes, Ahmad said the ministry, through the Malaysian Highway Authority­, continuously monitored the system by ensuring that highway operators conducted fine-tuning.

The deputy minister said that the government introduced an open payment toll collection system to provide more convenience to highway users.

Meanwhile, he said potholes reported to the ministry via the MyJalan mobile app must be repaired by local authorities within 24 hours.

“The turnaround time to patch damaged roads under the Works Ministry is 24 hours and other authorities are also required to fix the road within the same timeframe.

“Complaints on other damages will be resolved within 15 days,” he said in reply to Batang Lupar MP Mohamad Shafizan Kepli.

Ahmad said that from August 2023 to June 2025, 39,371 complaints were received through the app.

Of these, 11,959 complaints were related to federal roads, with the remaining under state governments, local authorities and other agencies.