If Singapore matches Malaysia’s rates, cars making a round-trip will expect to pay about RM33.20 in tolls, an increase from the current RM19.60. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 2, 2014.
Singapore is set to increase its toll rate to match that of the Johor Causeway in the “next few weeks”, a move that may further burden motorists going to and coming from the island.
The Straits Times quoted a Singaporean Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman as saying that the details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier and that the LTA would need some time to make the changes.
But, he said: “Should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit.”
Cars from Singapore entering Johor through the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex have to pay a toll of RM9.70, up from the previous RM2.90. Cars travelling from Johor to Singapore previously paid no tolls, but are now subject to a new toll of RM6.80.
While motorcycles are exempted from the tolls, buses, goods vehicles and taxis now also have to pay extra at the Malaysian checkpoint.
Singapore currently imposes separate lower charges for vehicles going from Singapore to Johor, but none for the return trip.
If Singapore matches Malaysia’s rates, cars making a round-trip will expect to pay about RM33.20 in tolls, an increase from the current RM19.60.
Bernama reported yesterday that this was due to Singapore’s practice of pegging its tolls to match those set by Malaysia at the Causeway and the Second Link.
"These Causeway toll changes are different from Malaysia's earlier announcement to impose a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.
"The Singapore government has not received any communication from the Malaysian authorities on this new toll or increase in toll charges, and has requested for official confirmation from the Malaysian government on the media reports," the spokesman was quoted as saying.
On Friday, stage buses transporting factory workers from Johor Baru refused to continue their journey into Singapore in protest against the toll hike, forcing scores of Malaysian factory workers travelling to Singapore to walk across the Causeway after factory buses refused to cross the checkpoint.
The revised toll rate at the CIQ Complex comes on the heels of Putrajaya’s plans to introduce a VEP fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, using his Twitter handle @khalednordin, had tweeted that "Johor will hold talks with bus companies to provide express services for locals working in Singapore".
Umno lawmaker Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed was among those who had criticised the toll hike and called for it to be postponed pending further analysis.
"I don't understand the rationale for the toll hike that is clearly going to burden the people in Johor who work in Singapore, when they still have to go through heavy traffic on a daily basis," Nur Jazlan had said.
The Public Accounts Committee chairman added that the rationale that the toll hike was needed to bear the cost of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) did not make sense.
"EDL is a privatisation project that is supposed to benefit the public and not incur higher toll," he said.
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong had also said the new rates were a heavy blow to Malaysians who commute daily to the island republic for work and that many may opt to use motorbikes as an option, which would lead to more road accidents and deaths.
"All these hardships are imposed because the cronies have to be paid for the highway and other projects they built.
"It is totally unacceptable," Liew had said.
- TMI
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