MLFF won’t totally eliminate highway congestion but will ensure smoother traffic flow – transport consultant

While the multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) toll collection system will not completely eliminate traffic congestion on highways, it will significantly reduce vehicle congestion at toll booths and contribute to smoother traffic flow on the whole, says a transport consultant.

According to My Mobility Vision founder Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the MLFF should be viewed as a part of a larger canvas that is an integrated traffic management system. “While I agree that the MLFF alone isn’t a silver bullet for all congestion issues, it is important to recognise its significant contribution in easing congestion specifically at toll plazas,” he told FMT.

“By removing physical toll booths, vehicles maintain a more consistent speed, which can drastically reduce localised bottlenecks and improve overall traffic flow. MLFF should be seen as a vital component within a holistic traffic management strategy rather than the sole solution to highway congestion,” he said, adding that many major cities have successfully adopted such an integrated approach.

The opinion was in response to last week’s statement made by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which said that the implementation of MLFF would not fully resolve traffic congestion on highways. The PAC recommended that the government conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis before proceeding with the RM3.46 billion project.

Wan Agyl agreed with the PAC’s call for a thorough study on the project, saying it was important to ensure transparency in procurement and address potential financial burdens in any major infrastructure project. However, he maintained that it was important for the MLFF project to continue.

“This balanced approach – acknowledging both the strengths of MLFF and the need for comprehensive congestion management – aligns with the best global practices and ensures that we harness technology to improve our transport infrastructure effectively,” he said.

MDS Consultancy MD Rosli Azad Khan was also in support of the project, saying it would reduce travel time, improve fuel efficiency for road users and lower operational costs for toll operators. He however added that the government needs to get the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system up and running first and ensure it was working effectively before moving on to MLFF.

He said this would allow the authorities to iron out any kinks in the system, but stressed that its operational aspects should remain under the purview of authorities. “The government must not privatise the ANPR function, as only a government department has the legal authority to implement this system,” he explained.

Earlier this month, the government said it had received several ideas and proposals on MLFF and was looking into them. Separately, deputy works minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan revealed that MLFF would likely not be implemented as a single system across all highway concessions in the country, but instead in stages, with PLUS expected to lead the way in with its own version.

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