{"id":12872,"date":"2022-01-02T12:58:55","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T04:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=12872"},"modified":"2022-01-02T12:58:57","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T04:58:57","slug":"rfid-implementation-needs-more-promotion-clarification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=12872","title":{"rendered":"RFID implementation needs more promotion, clarification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 — The government’s announcement to implement toll payment using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology on the main stretch of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) from Juru, in Penang, to Skudai, in Johor, effective Jan 15 received mixed reactions from various parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (FOMCA) deputy president\u00a0 Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman,\u00a0 the implementation is in line with the government’s intention to modernize toll payments and reduce congestion at toll plazas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We\u00a0see Singapore,\u00a0 which does not have tolls, traveling is faster because there is no need for motorists to stop, scan or touch the card and so on, like what we are doing now,”<\/em> he said when contacted by Bernama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to PLUS, toll payment via RFID was first introduced in 2018 at selected expressways as an initial step to the implementation of toll transactions\u00a0without the presence of toll plazas through the multi-lane free-flow system or MLFF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Mohd Yusof said the current\u00a0 20 RFID routes at nine PLUS toll plazas still had bars, and the situation caused highway users to have to slow down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"RFID\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

He said the value-added facility offered by RFID, which could be made online, should have been well-received by the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As many people say, to top-up Touch\u2018 n Go is a hassle.\u00a0You have to stop at convenience stores or petrol stations, and you have to have cash because cashless top-up is not possible.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo RFID provides\u00a0an easier option because the top-up can be done on smartphones either using a debit or credit card, or online banking. It also has a direct top-up feature using e-Wallet,\u201d<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He welcomed the move to implement the RFID in stages as not all highway users currently had access to RFID tags due to the lack of information on the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe option is given to motorists\u00a0to use Touch\u2018 n Go and Smart Tag for a certain period of time is appropriate until everyone has access to RFID. Then, PLUS can gradually eliminate the existing payment methods and switch to RFID completely,<\/em>” he said and suggested for more promotions\u00a0to be made by PLUS on RFID for the benefit of consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the negative reaction from some netizens over the government\u2019s move, Mohd Yusof said a similar situation occurred during the transition from cash payment system to Touch \u2018n Go at toll plazas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It did not take long for the public to accept the change (from\u00a0cash payment to Touch\u2018 n Go). It shows our people are prepared to accept changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs more and more people use the\u00a0facility, the response will be more positive. Many people do not agree now because not many people use it,<\/em>\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) activist leader Datuk Nadzim Johan questioned whether there was an urgent need for RFID to be implemented with the majority of the people\u00a0currently going through a difficult phase of life due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said although PLUS had clarified that Touch \u2018n Go and Smart Tag could still be used, it was still ‘bad news’ for some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven though it is just an announcement and the existing payment method is still running, it is making some people become more stressed,\u201d<\/em> he told Bernama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also raised the\u00a0question of how those in the rural areas\u00a0may have problems\u00a0installing RFID on the vehicles, as well as technical issues,\u00a0 such as the transfer of current balance\u00a0in Touch \u2018n Go and Smart Tags to RFID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere must be a guarantee that there will be no additional costs on the users,\u201d<\/em> he said and hoped that\u00a0 PLUS would provide more information on the\u00a0implementation of RFID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the RFID website, RFID is currently used by 1,269,957 users nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup told the Dewan Negara recently that the ministry was targeting\u00a060 percent usage of RFID) technology for toll payments by the end of 2022 and that the use of Touch ‘n Go and SmartTAG cards may be stopped by the end of 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NMT<\/a> as reported by Bernama<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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