Malaysia is gearing up to trial a barrierless toll system powered by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), a move aimed at easing congestion and modernising its highways.
While Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan recently told Parliament that a proof-of-concept is underway at the Alam Impian toll on the LKSA, PLUS Malaysia has announced its own ANPR trial will begin in mid-Aug along the North-South Expressway.
Thousands of selected users will participate in the trial. If successful, ANPR will become a key part of the national multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) tolling system, targeted for full rollout by 2027.
“This pilot is a crucial step in our shift towards the MLFF system,” a source close to the project said. The trial will test the system’s reliability in real traffic conditions.
Malaysia’s Works Ministry has backed the move to MLFF through a business-to-business (B2B) approach, with Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan confirming in Parliament that no public funds will be used to finance the rollout.
Unlike existing systems that require vehicles to slow down or stop, ANPR uses high-resolution cameras to scan number plates and deduct tolls automatically through linked e-payment accounts.
The PLUS trial will cover nine toll plazas between Hutan Kampung and Sungai Dua in northern Penang. Participants must download a mobile app, register their vehicle, and link a credit or debit card.
During this initial phase, physical toll barriers will remain in place. These may be removed in later phases once the system proves stable.
ANPR, which is common in countries like Singapore, can process tolls up to four times faster than RFID and SmartTAG, both of which still rely on vehicles reducing speed at toll points.
Source: MalayMail