PLUS Malaysia announced last Friday (March 15) that it has started pilot testing the open payment toll collection system (SPT) at the Penang Bridge, allowing commuters to use credit and debit cards for toll payments.

The toll concessionaire wrote via its Facebook page that transactions via debit and credit card can be conducted at lanes displaying the MyDebit, Visa, and Mastercard logos.

"At these lanes, two types of devices are provided, namely the Touch 'n Go card reader and the MyDebit-Visa-Mastercard reader.

"Users can tap their debit or credit cards on the MyDebit-Visa-Mastercard device for toll transactions, where the toll payment will be deducted from their credit card or debit card balance," it wrote.

Eligible Penangites will also enjoy a 20% discount on the Penang Bridge toll rate offered by PLUS under PLUSMiles when using bank cards or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for payment.

Those driving company vehicles are also eligible, though instead are limited to using only Touch ‘n Go cards to get the discount.

Do note that users looking to take advantage of the discounted rate will need register their vehicle and payment method in advance via the Jimat Di Penang portal.

Trials for the system initially started last September on 11 highways, which are as follows.

• Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Expressway (Akleh)
• Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)
• Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya)
• New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
• Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE)
• Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP)
• Skim Penyuraian Trafik Kuala Lumpur Barat (Sprint)
• Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas)
• SMART Tunnel
• Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX)
• Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE)