Toll hike a serious blow for Johor

It will burden workers heading to Singapore as well as transport companies and the economy in general.

PETALING JAYA: The government should not have rushed to hike toll rates at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex as this will directly affect Malaysians working in Singapore.

Besides it will indirectly affect the economic development of Johor Bahru and the surrounding environment because it will deter tourists from coming to Malaysia, said Wee Jack Seng the deputy secretary general of MCA.

“It is well known that many Malaysians, especially those who stay in Johor Bahru, travel across the Tebrau Straits to work in Singapore due to the higher pay offered there,” he said.

“Travelling between the two nations has become a way of life for these people, who endure long travel for a better life,” he said adding that the new toll rates will burden the motorists and the bus operators.

“They have to pay more to travel both ways. To make matters worse, Malaysians will be more severely hit than the Singaporeans,” he added.

He also said that many Singaporeans enter Malaysia to buy cheaper goods, thus creating a boost for our tourism industry.

“Since the new toll rates were imposed on Aug 1, we have seen a 5% drop in Singapore tourist and this will have a profound impact on our economy,” he said.

“The government should instead do more to encourage Singaporeans to come to Malaysia in order to boost the Iskandar Malaysia economic zone,” he added.

“It is unwise for the government to increase the toll rates simply to match Singapore’s move, as the public and the transport companies will suffer,” he said.