PLUS Malaysia says its Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) open payment tolling pilot is the first in Malaysia to allow highway users to experience “lane freedom”.
The ANPR tolling pilot, which is currently open to Class 1 (light private vehicles), covers the Hutan Kampung–Sungai Dua stretch on PLUS Highway.
According to PLUS, this marks an early milestone towards the future rollout of Multi Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) in Malaysia.
Under the pilot, registered users are no longer restricted to specific toll lanes. Instead, they may enter and exit through any toll lane at the following nine toll plazas:
- Hutan Kampung
- Alor Setar Utara
- Alor Setar Selatan
- Pendang, Gurun
- Sungai Petani Utara
- Sungai Petani Selatan
- Bertam
- Sungai Dua
Spanning 87.7km, the first stage is expected to ease congestion along toll plazas in the Northern section and to reduce the risk of unsafe last-minute lane changes.
How PLUS ANPR tolling system works
ANPR cameras installed at the toll plazas capture vehicle number plates, enabling toll charges to be processed automatically through a mobile-based payment platform linked to the user’s preferred payment method.
According to PLUS, the system is supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, allowing it to recognise vehicles across different operating conditions such as varying weather, vehicle speeds and camera angles.
PLUS claims that it will work with non-standard licence plates and the system’s accuracy will improve over time.
Unlike RFID or SmartTag, there’s no extra devices or tags required. Users can sign up and activate for free via the JustGO app.
To participate, users need to download the JustGO Malaysia mobile app which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Users will need to register their vehicles onto the platform and link a preferred payment method such as a debit or credit card. You can add up to 3 payment cards.
JustGO Malaysia as an open payment platform
According to PLUS, the JustGO app functions as an open digital toll payment platform intended to be co-owned by the highway industry. It said that the approach aligns with the Government’s aim to offer motorists more flexible toll payment options and more payment methods including eWallets and online banking will be added in the coming months.
The JustGO app also comes with e-invoicing facility.
If you do not want to participate in the ANPR pilot, not to worry. Existing toll payment options such as Touch ‘n Go, SmartTAG and RFID will still be available as usual along the ANPR pilot section.
PLUS’ ANPR tests have been ongoing since September 2024
PLUS has carried out extensive ANPR system testing since September 2024. It added that results showed faster vehicle detection compared to existing tolling systems, as the cameras provided wider coverage at toll plazas. PLUS said the tests were carried out in close collaboration with the Malaysian Highway Authority and other highway concessionaires.
Do note that the toll barriers will remain in place as the pilot progresses. Users are advised to maintain speeds of 20–25km/h when passing through toll plazas without stopping.
