Quick look:
- Motorists going up to Gohtong Jaya or the Genting Resort at Genting Highlands will have to pay toll (or road charges) at two locations along the private road.
- Exemptions are provided for emergency vehicles, motorcycles, workers at government facilities including schools. Residents at apartments will also be able to get preferential toll charges.
Although many may think toll-collection on roads began with the highways built since the 1990s, it actually goes back to your grandfather’s days of motoring. The very first toll-collection began at 6 am on a 20-km highway between Tanjung Malim and Slim River on March 16, 1966 and ended in April 1994 when the government had recovered the costs of building the highway.
Since then, paying toll to use highways has been common on highways. However, the money doesn’t go to the government (as the Slim River toll did) but is collected by concessionaires who have long-term contracts with the government to build and then maintain the highways.
This relieves the burden of having the government paying maintenance costs but concession agreements allow some control over the setting and increase of rates (although the government doesn’t make public the actual details).
First time since road opened
From this Thursday (May 28, 2026), vehicles travelling up to the Gohtong Jaya and the Genting Resort on the Genting Highlands at the Selangor/Pahang border will have to pay toll (or road charges, as they are being referred to) for the first time since the road to the resort at 1,800 metres was opened in August 1969. It’s always been a private road, originally connected to the old Gombak Road and then the Karak Highway.
Popular road for driving
The road has been maintained by the Genting Group all along and over the years, it was widened, smoothened and made safer. Over the years, its many curves have made it popular among driving enthusiasts who have regular drives on weekends going up and down the road. Even YS Khong (the former rally champion) uses it for his popular videos where he shows how new cars perform.
However, in recent times, irresponsible drivers have also started to have accidents due to going faster than they have the skills to handle, or simply having no common sense. These few reckless drivers have made things difficult for other responsible drivers as police have been taking action, especially against sportscars travelling in groups.
Offsetting maintenance costs
Although it makes millions from the casino and resort business, Genting has found that maintenance costs are getting high and has now decided to offset those costs by charging motorists using its road.
Payment at two locations
Its subsidiary, Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd (LCSB), is responsible for the toll-collection which will be implemented in 2 phases starting from May 28 at two locations.
The first one is at the first guardhouse just off the Karak Highway (known as Genting Highlands Entry) and the second one is the Gohtong Jaya Entry at the guardhouse after the Gohtong Jaya roundabout.
Identical charges of between RM5 and RM25, depending on vehicle type, are collected at both points. Vehicles exempted from paying any charges are emergency vehicles, motorcycles and vehicles driven by those working at government institutions such as schools, the police station, district offices, as well as Klinik Desa Sri Layang.
Preferential rates for residents
Those who stay at apartments in Genting Highlands can apply for preferential rates (10% lower than the normal rate per entry) and season passes. Until June 28, 2026, if they register their vehicles, they will be permitted toll-free entry. LCSB says the exemption and preferential rates will be reviewed periodically ‘to ensure continued relevance and to reflect operational or policy changes’.
