4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Unlimited Merdeka travel pass for RM68
KUALA LUMPUR: Highway concessionaire Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Berhad has launched its Smart Unlimited Travel Pass for National Day and Malaysia Day.
The pass, also called the Merdeka Unlimited Travel Pass, is available to SMART Tunnel users at a one-off payment of RM68 and valid from Aug 16 to Sept 16.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said: "The initiative allows daily commuters to save up to RM64 a month, compared with the average monthly toll of RM132."
He added that the offer carries special significance in celebrating the nation's 68th National Day and 15th Malaysia Day.
The one-month scheme, he said, demonstrated how public facilities could, and should, be provided in ways that prioritised inclusivity and the people's well-being.
Nanta, who officiated at the launch at the SMART Management and Tunnel Operations Complex yesterday, was joined by Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Sazali Harun and Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat group chief executive officer Muhammad Nizam Alias.
On average, commuters using the SMART Tunnel make around 44 trips a month, with a one-way toll of RM3.
The Merdeka Unlimited Travel Pass not only offers savings but also provides quick access to the city centre via a route used by an average of 19,000 vehicles daily.
It is also the world's only dual-function tunnel combining traffic and floodwater management.
"This initiative shows how infrastructure players can take proactive steps to help people manage the rising cost of living, particularly in urban areas.
"It also strengthens public trust in the highway industry and reflects Malaysia Madani's emphasis on balancing economic growth with social justice, underpinned by values of respect and compassion," Nanta said.
He added that the SMART Tunnel would remain one of Malaysia's most significant engineering achievements, playing a vital role in flood mitigation and urban mobility.
It has received international recognition, including the United Nations Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, the British Construction Industry Award, and the Asean Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award — and was listed by CNN among the "Most Impressive Tunnels in the World".
Meanwhile, Nanta said there would be no free toll for National Day as such exemptions were limited to one-day festivals.
