MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL CALLS S’PORE’S MATCHING INCREASE OF CAUSEWAY TOLL HIKE UNJUSTIFIED

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia officials want to meet their Singapore counterparts to get the city-state to reconsider its decision to increase checkpoint toll fees at the Causeway, according to the local media.

Singapore’s reason for the toll hike was “unjustified”, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wee Ka Siong was quoted as saying in a report in The Star Online on Friday (Sep 19). He said that a meeting between Malaysia and Singapore officials would take place “as soon as possible”, for Malaysia to find out the reason for the increased toll charges at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

“We have to meet them personally to rectify their perception that Malaysia introduced a new charge at the CIQ to pay the concessionaire and to upgrade the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL),” Dr Wee said. “It should not be an excuse for them (Singapore) to increase their toll charges.”

On Aug 1, Singapore had raised fees for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for foreign-registered cars and the Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP). On the same day, Malaysia’s government raised toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor through the Causeway, and imposed a new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore.

Subsequently, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority announced that it would increase toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, leaving Singapore through the Causeway from Oct 1. There will also be a new toll charge introduced for vehicles, except motorcycles, entering Singapore.

The move is in line with Singapore’s long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia, and Singapore will follow suit should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, the LTA has said. It had also pointed out the difference between Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees, and Malaysia’s new Causeway toll charges.