{"id":34550,"date":"2025-10-08T13:11:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/automotive\/touch-n-go-rfid-mlff-vs-plus-justgo-anpr-malaysian-highways-to-have-competing-toll-systems\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:11:22","slug":"touch-n-go-rfid-mlff-vs-plus-justgo-anpr-malaysian-highways-to-have-competing-toll-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/automotive\/touch-n-go-rfid-mlff-vs-plus-justgo-anpr-malaysian-highways-to-have-competing-toll-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Touch \u2018n Go RFID MLFF vs PLUS JustGo ANPR \u2013 Malaysian highways to have competing toll systems?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Touch<\/a><\/p>\n

Now that Touch \u2018n Go has entered the multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) arena \u2013 as it was bound to do given its near-monopoly of toll payments \u2013 highway concessionaires now have a partner to help implement a barrier-less, high-speed toll collection system. But it won\u2019t be all smooth sailing, as this time around the said concessionaires have the ability to shop around for a solution that works for them.<\/p>\n

One highway operator that has decided to go its own way is PLUS Malaysia, which is set to trial its automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system on the North-South Highway this month, using its JustGo app for payments. Now, this obviously begs the question \u2013 does this mean there will be multiple competing MLFF toll collection systems? And if so, does that mean us Malaysians will have to download a separate app for each of our country\u2019s numerous highways?<\/p>\n

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let\u2019s have a look at how each system operates. The MLFF solution that Touch \u2018n Go is currently piloting on the Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA) retains the RFID tags the company currently uses, but adds a new reader and a high-powered antenna from Star Systems International (SSI). This enables the system to read tags more accurately and reliably \u2013 addressing the main drawback of the current RFID setup.<\/p>\n

This is supported by an ANPR camera and a 3D lidar sensor as a fallback, helping to detect the cars that manage to slip through the cracks. According to SSI, the pilot system \u2013 which uses data from a nearby toll plaza for validation \u2013 achieved 100% vehicle detection and has read over 99.98% of existing TnG RFID tags.<\/p>\n

The biggest advantage of TnG\u2019s system is that it integrates a payment method that already exists \u2013 the RFID and eWallet combination that is used for the vast majority of highways here. Customers will not need to get new tags or install a new application, sidestepping the hassle of adopting a new system. However, it remains to be seen if TnG\u2019s solution works as well as it (or at least its partner) claims, given the issues that have dogged the current RFID system for toll payments.<\/p>\n

\"Touch<\/a><\/p>\n

PLUS\u2019 ANPR-based toll collection system<\/em> <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, PLUS\u2019 system only uses ANPR technology and reportedly works with the cameras already installed at its toll booths for surveillance, dispensing with the need for RFID tags, readers and antennas. All that\u2019s required is a legible number plate which, let\u2019s be real, is easier said than done in Malaysia.<\/p>\n

The JustGo app is needed to register for the system, but unlike the Touch \u2018n Go eWallet app, this is not an electronic wallet in and of itself \u2013 users will need to link it with their payment method of their choice, including credit\/debit cards and, crucially, the TnG eWallet itself. Both apps feature electronic know your customer (eKYC) technology for account verification, preventing unauthorised transactions.<\/p>\n

The method chosen by PLUS requires a bit more effort on the user\u2019s part but should be less costly for the company to implement, as it won\u2019t have to pay for expensive RFID equipment. The ability to use a TnG eWallet as one of the payment methods also eliminates having to keep track of multiple accounts.<\/p>\n

We should point out that the ANPR system is currently being trialled with barriers still in place, so it\u2019s unclear if the technology is able to be scaled up to a full-blown MLFF setup with multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic.<\/p>\n

\"Touch<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible to game a purely ANPR-based system \u2013 just ask the owner of this Toyota Fortuner<\/em> <\/p>\n

Relying solely on number plates for recognition also opens up the system to the possibility of unscrupulous motorists gaming it \u2013 witness the recent case of one road user manipulating their plate number to evade numerous fines from AWAS speed cameras, simply by removing a single letter. As for the downside to users, well, it\u2019s yet another app to download\u2026<\/p>\n

Which brings us to our main concern \u2013 if each of the 33 highway concessionaires choose to implement their own competing MLFF system, does that mean we\u2019ll all have to download 33 separate apps? We certainly hope not, and we expect the government to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.<\/p>\n

To be honest, we\u2019re not surprised that TnG and PLUS have decided to go their separate ways, given that the two companies have a history of sparring when it comes to toll payment methods. In 2018, not long after TnG revealed its RFID system, PLUS announced its plan to introduce a competing product \u2013 only for TnG parent CIMB to seek an injunction blocking the move, citing a breach of contract. Initially, PLUS said its RFID system did not run afoul of any agreement, but it abandoned the project soon after anyway.<\/p>\n

Even now, having eventually adopted TnG\u2019s RFID setup, PLUS is continuing to drag its feet with the implementation of the PayDirect system, which enables toll fares to be deducted directly from a user\u2019s eWallet. Even the works ministry has had to step in, instructing PLUS to enable PayDirect on the North-South Highway by this month. Which MLFF system are you supporting? Let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n

The post Touch \u2018n Go RFID MLFF vs PLUS JustGo ANPR \u2013 Malaysian highways to have competing toll systems? appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Now that Touch \u2018n Go has entered the multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) arena \u2013 as it was bound to do given its near-monopoly of toll payments \u2013 highway concessionaires now have a partner to help implement a barrier-less, high-speed toll collection system. But it won\u2019t be all smooth sailing, as this time around the said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-34550","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-automotive"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}