No More 20% Discount For Second Penang Bridge Toll Due To Revenue Shortfall

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday (Dec 4) that the Second Penang Bridge would not be eligible for the 20% toll rate concession offered for the Penang Bridge because of its far higher construction costs and poor revenue-generating performance.
Ahmad noted that the building expenses for both bridges were substantially different, with the Penang Bridge costing RM850 million and the Second Penang Bridge costing RM4.8 billion.

"In terms of revenue, the Penang Bridge generated RM29.3mil in 2023, while the second Penang Bridge was expected to generate RM137.2mil. However, it only achieved RM53.8mil, 42% of its projected revenue.

"This shortfall is one of the key reasons we cannot offer the 20% discount," he said in response to a question from Senator Lingeshwaran Datuk Seri R. Arunasalam, who asked whether the discount could be extended to Second Penang Bridge users.

However, the minister stated that the state government was welcome to submit a proposal to the Finance Ministry, which is in charge of income management for the bridge, for further consideration.
As part of the government's efforts to lower living expenses , Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced on January 1 that the toll rate for private vehicles at the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge (JSAHMS) had been lowered from RM8.50 to RM7.00, in line the rate at Penang Bridge.