Government Will Look Into Touch ‘n Go Monopoly - Anwar

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Touch 'n Go (TnG) monopoly on highway toll collection will be reviewed. TnG has been in operation for more than two decades, according to Anwar, and there have been no convincing developments in the stagnant system.

"You are correct, TnG has been in business for more than two decades. In the system, there has been no convincing development or progress. "And I think you're right, we need to reconsider that," he said in response to a varsity student's question during a youth dialogue session at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre's Youth Empowerment Fair. Anwar also gave them a preview of how the new administration will operate with him in charge.

He discussed public transportation, student activism, and even promised to repeal provisions of the University and University Colleges Act (Auku) that limit the autonomy of students and lecturers. Former Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof previously stated that the government was considering allowing the public to pay highway tolls using alternative digital payments other than TnG.

Touch 'n Go is the default and only contactless payment option for highway tolling and public transportation, including RapidKL rail networks, at the moment. Touch 'n Go PayDirect, which deducts tolls and parking fees from your linked eWallet for selected TNG terminals, was recently introduced to alleviate concerns about insufficient balance.


Furthermore, Touch 'n Go has released a newer Enhanced TNG card with NFC, allowing users to reload the card using an NFC-enabled smartphone.

Touch 'n Go and CIMB also announced in late 2019 that they will launch an open payment facility for RFID highway payments, allowing users to link their RFID tags to other cashless payment options such as bank accounts, credit and debit cards. Several years have passed, but no open payment system for highway tolling has been implemented.


PLUS has previously stated that Touch 'n Go is the country's sole government-approved electronic payment system provider for toll collection. In late 2018, the highway concessionaire tried to "break" Touch 'n Go's monopoly by introducing its own PLUS RFID system, which is linked to credit and debit cards.

After CIMB took legal action against PLUS for violating a joint venture agreement on toll payment collection signed two decades ago, PLUS eventually adopted TNG's RFID system.