FIRST PUBLIC PILOT RFID ON NORTHERN CLOSED TOLL SYSTEM COMMENCES ON 22 JULY 2020

 From Wednesday, 22^nd July 2020, PLUS Malaysia Berhad’s (PLUS) private passenger vehicles customers from the northern state of Kedah as well as Penangites who commute daily interstate will be able to enjoy smoother driving experience toll to toll from Hutan Kampung all the way to Sungai Dua as all nine closed toll plazas will offer a dedicated RFID lane at both its entry and exit points of each toll plazas.

“Our Northern highway customers will very soon be able to enjoy convenient, swift and safe RFID experience.  Aligned to the Government’s directive to move towards Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll highway, the introduction of RFID on closed toll system is a next step to make this goal a reality. The RFID technology allows for faster throughput thus reducing congestion at the toll lanes, which is the primary objective for PLUS adopting it,” affirms Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

PLUS ushered the New Year with RFID being made available at all its 10 open toll systems (single payment at respective toll plaza) on 1st January 2020 at Jitra, Lunas, Kubang Semang, Penang Bridge, Mambau, Lukut, Kempas, Perling, Lima Kedai and Tanjung Kupang Toll Plazas.

However, plans by PLUS to roll out across its 84 closed toll systems (payment based on distance travelled) on 1st April 2020, had to be deferred due to Covid-19 pandemic which subjected the Country to the Movement Control Order (MCO). Since the implementation of the Recovery MCO, PLUS cautiously planned the progressive reinstatement of RFID implementation. 

“Coincidently, its cashless and contactless transaction not only reduces human interaction at the lanes, but also eliminates the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Linked to an e-wallet as the source of funds, the RFID will reduce cases of insufficient card balances that cause hold up at lane. The ability to top up the e-wallet online helps replenish e-wallet balances regularly and negates the human interactions at toll plaza (for insufficient card balances) that increases the risk of Covid-19 transmission,” explains Datuk Azman Ismail. 

All Private Passenger vehicles with RFID tags will appreciate the seamless and smooth travel along the northern stretch of the PLUS highway as they pass through the dedicated RFID lanes at the following Toll Plazas from Sungai Dua to Bertam, Sungai Petani Selatan, Sungai Petani Utara, Gurun, Pendang, Alor Setar Selatan, Alor Setar Utara all the way to Hutan Kampung, Kedah.

“We anticipate from the positive uptake of RFID tag from Penangites, our Kedah highway customers will also be eager to register for theirs, especially since Touch ‘n’ Go Sdn Bhd (Touch ‘n Go, current provider of RFID)  is giving away 1,500 free RFID tags in a limited time only promotion, and there’s no better reason than now with additional fitment centres available in the northern region,” declares Datuk Azman. 

PLUS currently offers complimentary RFID tag, on a first come first serve basis at selected Fitment Centres in Penang and Kedah only (refer the list below) in conjunction with the #JomRFID campaign, especially during the Hutan Kampung-Sungai Dua the public pilot program kick-off. 

“We continue to receive highly encouraging take ups from new RFID users across the northern region over the weekend. It’s heartening to note that the collaboration with Touch ‘n Go will lead to a swifter, safer and congestion free experience to our highway customers,” affirms Datuk Azman. 

To redeem these complimentary RFID tags, customers would be required to register as a PLUSMiles member and log in to https://jomrfid.plusmiles.com.my  and receive a voucher code for redemption, while stocks last. After the full redemption of 1,500 complimentary RFID tags, 500 PLUSMiles reward points for 15,000 users are up for grabs when a customer purchases an RFID tag at RM35 each at the selected Fitment Centres.

The list of the RFID Fitment Centres in Penang and Kedah are as follows:

NOTE:

Updated as per 22 July 2020

More info on location & operating hours at https://jomrfid.plusmiles.com.my

PLUS and TNG are working closely towards introducing more RFID Mobile Fitment Centres along the PLUS highway especially along the Gurun R&R (Both Bounds) and other key locations soon. By having the RFID tag installed at Fitment Centres, it would enable the RFID tag tested for radio frequency completeness prior to actual toll transactions.

The full list of RFID Fitment Centres available is provided at https://mx.touchngo.com.my/fitment-centres.

Highway customers, while they are encouraged to adopt RFID for their travelling convenience, toll payments via Touch 'n Go cards and SmartTAGs are still accepted at respective toll plazas until further notice.

UJIAN AWAM PERTAMA SISTEM TOL RFID DI PLAZA TOL DI UTARA BERMULA 22 JULAI 2020

Bermula Rabu, 22 Julai 2020, pengguna Kenderaan Penumpang Persendirian di Utara di sekitar Kedah serta Pulau Pinang di antara Hutan Kampung sehingga Sungai Dua berpeluang menikmati perjalanan yang lebih lancar apabila 9 buah plaza tol di laluan terbabit menyediakan laluan khas RFID di plaza tol masuk dan keluar.

“Pelanggan kami di Utara bakal menikmati pengalaman menggunakan sistem transaksi tol RFID yang lebih mudah, cepat dan selamat. Ia adalah selaras dengan hasrat Kerajaan untuk melaksanakan sistem tol Aliran Bebas Pelbagai Lorong (MLFF) di mana pelaksanaan RFID adalah langkah awal ke arah matlamat tersebut. Teknologi RFID membolehkan transaksi tol dilakukan secara lebih pantas dan seterusnya mengurangkan kesesakan di lorong tol. Ini adalah matlamat utama PLUS,” jelas Datuk Azman Ismail, Pengarah Urusan PLUS.

Pada 1 Januari lalu, RFID telah diperkenalkan di 10 buah plaza tol Sistem Terbuka (pembayaran tol berdasarkan jenis kenderaan dan dikenakan setiap kali kenderaan melalui plaza tol) iaitu di Plaza Tol Jitra, Lunas, Kubang Semang, Jambatan Pulau Pinang, Mambau, Lukut, Kempas, Perling, Lima Kedai dan Tanjung Kupang.

Walau bagaimanapun, perancangan PLUS untuk memperkenalkannya di 84 plaza tol Sistem Tertutup (kadar tol berdasarkan jarak perjalanan serta jenis kenderaan dan pembayaran tol hanya dibuat di plaza tol keluar dari lebuhraya) bermula 1 April lalu terpaksa ditunda ekoran pandemik Covid-19 di mana Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dikuatkuasakan oleh Kerajaan. Namun begitu, sejak fasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Pemulihan (PKPP), PLUS telah mula mengadakan pelbagai persediaan untuk melaksanakan RFID.

“Lebih-lebih lagi, transaksi tol melalui sistem RFID tanpa sentuh yang tidak melibatkan pertukaran dan transaksi wang tunai secara fizikal berupaya mengurangkan risiko jangkitan Covid-19. Dihubungkan terus kepada e-wallet sebagai sumber dana, RFID berupaya mengurangkan kejadian baki kurang yang menyumbang kepada kelewatan dan gangguan perjalanan di lorong tol. Dengan menambah nilai e-wallet secara online pada bila-bila masa, pelanggan boleh memainkan peranan mengurangkan interaksi fizikal di plaza tol (akibat baki kurang) dan seterusnya mengurangkan risiko penularan Covid-19,” jelasnya.

Pelanggan Kenderaan Penumpang Persendirian yang melanggan RFID akan dapat menikmati perjalanan yang lebih lancar di Utara menerusi lorong khas RFID di Plaza Tol Sungai Dua, Bertam, Sungai Petani Selatan, Sungai Petani Utara, Gurun, Pendang, Alor Setar Selatan, Alor Setar Utara dan Hutan Kampung.

“Kami optimis, dengan penerimaan baik daripada pengguna di Pulau Pinang, pelanggan kami di Kedah akan turut berminat untuk mendaftar bagi mendapatkan RFID terutamanya apabila Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd (Touch ‘n Go, penyedia perkhidmatan RFID) bersetuju untuk memberikan 1,500 tag RFID secara percuma sepanjang tempoh promosi. Bagi membolehkan ini dilaksanakan, beberapa pusat pemasangan RFID di Utara turut ditambah,” kata Datuk Azman.

PLUS telah menawarkan Tag RFID percuma (selagi stok masih ada) di pusat-pusat pemasangan RFID yang terpilih di Pulau Pinang dan Kedah sahaja (rujuk senarai di bawah) serentak dengan kempen #JomRFID bersempena dengan pelaksanaan Ujian Awam RFID di laluan Hutan Kampung-Sungai Dua.

“Kami telah menerima sambutan yang amat mengalakkan daripada pengguna-pengguna baharu RFID di wilayah utara sepanjang hujung minggu lalu. Saya berasa sangat teruja kerana dengan kerjasama daripada Touch ‘n Go, ianya akan membawa kepada pengalaman pembayaran tol yang lebih pantas, lebih selamat dan akan mengurangkan kesesakan di lorong tol kepada para pelanggan kami,” jelas Datuk Azman.

Bagi mendapatkan tag RFID percuma ini, pelanggan perlu mendaftarkan diri sebagai ahli PLUSMiles dan melayari https://jomrfid.plusmiles.com.my untuk menerima kod baucar pemasangan percuma (stok adalah terhad). Walau bagaimanapun, sekiranya tag RFID percuma sebanyak 1,500 tersebut telah habis, 15,000 pelanggan akan menerima 500 mata ganjaran PLUSMiles apabila mendapatkan tag RFID dengan harga RM35 setiap unit di pusat-pusat pemasangan RFID yang terpilih berikut:-

PLUS dan Touch ‘n Go juga akan menambah jumlah pusat pemasangan RFID sementara di sepanjang lebuhraya PLUS terutamanya di R&R Gurun (kedua-dua arah) serta di lain-lain lokasi utama tidak lama lagi. Dengan memasang tag RFID di pusat-pusat pemasangan ini, ia membolehkannya diuji sebelum ia digunakan di lebuhraya untuk transaksi tol.

Pelanggan juga boleh merujuk senarai penuh pusat pemasangan RFID di pautan https://mx.touchngo.com.my/fitment-centres. 

Walaupun pelanggan digalakkan untuk beralih kepada sistem transaksi tol RFID untuk menikmati perjalanan yang lebih selesa, transaksi tol menggunakan kad Touch ‘n Go atau SmartTAG masih lagi dikendalikan sehingga satu tempoh yang ditetapkan kelak.