In BM, I think “melepas batuk di tangga” is appropriate to describe the action by toll companies. Its just some half-hearted act, by which they expect the public to bend over their backs praising. Unfortunately, the consensus seems to be brickbats for the companies. Funny thing is, the Work Minister was announcing this during a Road Safety Campaign by his ministry (he said it was like ang pow). I wonder if he mentioned about the dangers of driving in odd hours. I think the Minister should have advised the toll companies to provide better offer, something that will really bring cheer to the public.

Motorists using 17 highways will receive incentives such as tollfree rides and discounts from concessionaires as “angpow” for the Chinese New Year.

The concessionaire of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and East Coast Highway (Phase 1) has decided to allow free rides on 11.30pm on Feb 11 to 4.30am on Feb 12, and the same times from Feb 15-16.

Other concessionaires will be offering discounts of between 5% and 20% for those using their highways, Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said on Monday, adding this was the first such incentive for Chinese New Year.

“In other words, this is an ‘angpow’ from toll concessionaires for motorists using their highways,” he told reporters after launching the ministry’s Road Safety Campaign in Semenyih Monday.

Highways offering discounts on Feb 14 are Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), SPRINT Highway, New Pantai Expressway (NPE), Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya), Smart Expressway, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), Shah Alam-Kuang Guthire Corridor Expressway, KL-Putrajaya Expressway, Duta-Hulu Klang Expressway (Duke), Cheras-Kajang Expressway (Grand Saga), Shah Alam Expressway and Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK).

The North South Expressway (PLUS) offers discounts on Feb 10, 11, and 12 while the North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) will be offering its discounts on Feb 17, 18 and 19.

Currently, there are 26 toll concessionaires operating in the country.

Shaziman said the initiative by concessionaires was voluntary one.

Want to read some advice from MIROS?:

Motorists should think of safety first and not toll-free offers or discounts when travelling at night.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said driving at night required a different set of skills from day driving.

“Motorists should not change their driving habits for the sake of getting a discount,” he told The Star yesterday.

However, he said if drivers still insisted on driving at those times, they should plan their journeys by resting adequately before setting off or have a back-up driver.

A bit of news from PLUS below. They spent RM20 million since January LAST year. Yeah, is that like a lot of money for them or more like loose change after breakfast?

In PETALING JAYA, PLUS Expressways Bhd managing director Noorizah Abdul Hamid said highway users will be given a discount of 20% when they used PLUS highways between midnight and 7am during the Chinese New Year holidays.

Cars, excluding taxis, will be given an additional 10% discount on top of the existing 10% rebate given everyday during the off-peak hours.

“The discount will be given on Feb 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 in conjunction with the celebrations,” she said in a statement yesterday.

The discount will be applicable at the North-South Expressway, Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, ELITE and Linkedua but excluded toll plazas near the borders such as Tanjung Kupang, Johor Baru Causeway and Bukit Kayu Hitam.

The additional festive season toll discounts are offered during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas to reflect the 1Malaysia concept.

PLUS has spent almost RM20mil on toll discounts since PLUS Travel Incentive programme was introduced in January last year.