Daily Lessons from Life 28 July 2014 - S'pore will match Malaysia's new Causeway tolls, says LTA

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"S'pore will match Malaysia's new Causeway tolls, says LTA - The Straits Times | Monday, Jul 28, 2014

The LTA was responding to media reports that Malaysia's Works Ministry will increase a toll charge for all vehicles except motorcycles entering Johor from Singapore through the Johor Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Causeway.

It will also impose a new Causeway toll for outbound vehicles entering Singapore from Johor.

Here is the LTA press statement in response to the media reports:

In response to media queries, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson noted from media reports that Malaysia's Works Ministry will increase toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor through the Johor Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Causeway, as well as introduce a new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore, both with effect from 1 August 2014.

The spokesperson also noted that these Causeway toll changes are different from Malaysia's earlier announcement to impose an entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.

The spokesperson explained that it has been the Singapore Government's practice to peg Singapore's tolls to match those set by Malaysia at the Causeway and the Second Link.

If there is indeed a new toll, or an increase in toll charges, at the Causeway, the Singapore Government will match the new toll and increase in toll charges in due course. The spokesperson said that 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 of the media reports.

On the proposed entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor, the spokesperson said that Singapore had earlier contacted the Malaysian Government to seek details, and is awaiting Malaysia's reply before deciding on our response."

It is interesting and disturbing to read the LTA's responses though the whole tolls - new and/or increased - are not official yet.

1. increase to existing toll to use the JB CIQ before entering Singapore - the Malaysian motorists, besides those on motorcycles, will be very upset as many of them comes to Singapore to work. There are a sizable number of Singaporeans who lived in JB and commute to Singapore for work too. This change, if official, will add to their travelling costs! Singaporeans, the JB and Msia government probably don't care. But the Malaysians, probably will be upset enough to vote the opposition parties in the next GE! :-) though this is not how democracy should work but it does;

2. new toll for ALL vehicles entering Singapore from JB, this effectively is like an 'exit tax' for Malaysians to leave JB and go to Singapore! This will definitely adds cost to the thousands of goods vehicles, trucks, etc that bring foods, vegetables and many other goods and products to Singapore daily. How will this play out on 'inflation' in Singapore for the ordinary people?;

3. LTA's responses to item 1 is understandable - to match the increase in the existing toll. However, the 'matching of the new 'exit tax'' measure DOES NOT make any sense to me! Why would LTA want to impose an 'exit tax' just to 'match' with the JB and Msia government's action, if true and official? how can Singaporeans leaving Singapore and driving to Msia create more traffic in Singapore?

Maybe I read the response wrongly. I hope I did and had. If not, it simply does not make sense.

In any case, this Little Red Dot once again is put in an uncomfortable position by questionable actions by our nearest neighbours.

Such is life. Let's see how it develop and how we will then roll with the punches.