JB shops feel impact of toll hike, says paper

A day after a hike in toll rates at the Johor Causeway, fewer cars from Singapore crossed over to the state. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 3, 2014.

A day after the toll on cars entering the Johor Causeway was, the impact was felt by shops and petrol stations in Johor Baru, with many reporting fewer Singaporean customers, said the Straits Times today.

The Sunday Times, the weekend edition of the Singapore paper, said the smooth traffic flow from Singapore at the Causeway on Saturday morning was evidence of the toll hike.

Under the new rates set by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), 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.

Taxis have to pay a total of RM8.20 (RM4.80 inbound, RM3.40 outbound), up from the previous RM1.40.

MHA had said the collection was needed for the maintenance of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and other CIQ facilities.

The more than 400% hike for the toll rates at the CIQ Complex comes fresh on the heels of Putrajaya’s plans to introduce a vehicle entry permit (VEP) fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.

"It usually takes up to two hours just to enter, but today, it took us less than an hour," Fran William, 35, told the Sunday Times.

Motorcycles are exempted, while buses, goods vehicles and taxis now also have to pay extra at the Malaysian checkpoint.

In a tit-for-tat move, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority had said it would match the new Malaysian rates in the next weeks.

The Straits Times quoted an LTA spokesman as saying that the details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier and that it 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.”

A boutique in Johor Baru reported a drop of about 40% in sales, said ST, while a shoe shop assistant said there were fewer Singaporean customers.

"Today (Saturday) is like a weekday – there is hardly anyone," boutique sales assistant Fariha Razak was quoted as saying.

A petrol station near the Johor Baru checkpoint reported fewer Singaporean customers, estimating a drop of about 20% in the last two days.

But the paper noted that not all Singaporeans have been discouraged by the new toll rates. Many can still save up to S$40 (RM104) if they filled their tanks in Malaysia. Groceries are also half the cost on this side of the Causeway.

The Johor Lorry Operators Association vice-president, Andrew Chia, told Channel NewsAsia that if the Putrajaya did not reduce the fares, lorry drivers might stage a protest the coming week.

This would have followed bus drivers who, on Friday, parked their vehicles before the Johor Baru checkpoint, causing a massive jam. Hundreds of bus passengers were forced to continue their journey on foot.

A spokesman for the Johor-Singapore Community Care Association also told the Sunday Times that the new toll charges were "unreasonably high".

The association was started by a group of Singaporeans living in Johor to assist those who live and work there.

Yesterday, DAP urged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to defer the astronomical toll hike at the Johor Causeway pending a proper public consultation.

Its parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang, said the toll hike of 480% was probably the highest increase in Malaysian history and was implemented less than a week after it was announced on July 26. 

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 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