“(The government) will announce the dates, whether there is a toll exemption in conjunction with the Christmas celebration.

“I was told there might be an announcement on Friday. Let’s wait,” he told reporters after visiting the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) here.

On average, the government allocates RM21 million a day to highway concessionaires when toll fees are waived, he said.

This year, he said the government paid out RM80.07 million for the toll-free initiative during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, RM42.31 million for Deepavali and RM41.21 million for Chinese New Year.

Separately, Ahmad said the government is targeting to build an additional 100 charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) on tolled highways, especially at the North-South Expressway (PLUS), by 2025 in view of the increasing number of EVs.

Currently, 60 EV charging points on the PLUS Highway and East Coast Expressway (LPT) have been set up at rest and service (R&R) areas and petrol stations.