Malaysia, Singapore ministers to meet to find ‘solution’ on toll charges

JOHOR BARU — The Malaysian Cabinet is worried about Singapore’s decision to raise toll charges at the Causeway, Malaysia Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai was quoted by The Star as saying. He added that he and Malaysia’s Foreign Minister will be meeting their Singapore counterparts to “find a solution”.

Singapore’s decision to increase toll charges starting Oct 1 — as part of a long-standing matching policy — followed Malaysia’s imposition of higher toll fees on Aug 1. After the higher toll at the Woodlands Checkpoint kicks in, motorists will have to pay more than five times more for a round trip — with the exception of motorcyclists, who are exempted — which Malaysians who commute here for work daily have expressed concern about.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Johor Malaysian Chinese Association convention on Saturday, Mr Liow said he would explain to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew that the toll collected at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex was meant for the upgrading of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL).

“Only motorists using the EDL pay toll when they enter the CIQ,” he said, urging Singapore to reconsider its decision. The Singapore Government has said repeatedly that if Malaysia does away with the increase or the toll, it would do the same.

The Star also reported Mr Liow as saying that the toll issue would not affect ongoing discussions between the two governments on the proposed high-speed rail project.

“We are working very closely with our Singaporean counterparts. Among the matters that need to be agreed on are the operator for the high-speed train, locations of each station and financial cost of having such a service in both countries,” Mr Liow said, adding that discussions are going “very well”, with the project’s completion expected by 2020. Agencies