Toll rates for the Johor Causeway are expected to increase starting 1st of August 2014, and Singaporean vehicles will have to pay toll which was previously only levied on vehicles headed into Malaysia, reports The Star.
Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) director-general Datuk Ismail Mohd Salleh announced a major increase in toll rates to be imposed on all vehicles passing through the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, beginning 1st August 2014.
He also mentioned that all charges will be implemented electronically at both sides using the Touch ‘n’ Go card, with cash payments no longer possible. There will be a dedicated Touch ‘n’ Go lane manned around-the-clock to cater for motorists who do not have the card.
Toll rates for cars will be revised upwards from RM2.90 to RM9.70 (inbound) and RM6.80 imposed on outbound vehicles.
Inbound Class Two vehicles will now be levied RM4.50 (up from RM14.70) and RM10.20 for Singapore-bound vehicles.
According to Ismail, the revised rates were appropriate given the facilities and services enjoyed by users that travelled to the complex using the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL).
Ismail stressed that motorists using the 8.1km elevated highway would not be tolled if they do not go through the CIQ complex. However, all Causeway users have no choice but to pay the toll.
Following the announcement by the Malaysian Highway Authority, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it will follow suit with an equivalent amount if the rumours prove true, reports The Straits Times.
Saying that it has not received official notice of such a hike from its Malaysian counterpart, the LTA explained that it was its practice to fix toll rates on its side of the Causeway to Malaysia’s while taking into account prevalent exchange rates.
If Singapore does match the reported hike by Malaysia, motorists must feasibly pay RM26.20 just for toll charges to use the Causeway. The increase is in addition to the RM50 vehicle entry permit (VEP) charge that Malaysia is planning to introduce in an apparent response to a hike in the same fee on Singapore’s side.
Singapore will also revise the VEP fee on foreign cars entering the republic from S$20 (RM51.26) to S$35 (RM89.71) effective 1st August 2014.
Source: The Star, The Straits Times
