Drivers' refusal to pay tolls strands thousands

SINGAPORE — From disrupting businesses to causing havoc for furious commuters — many were late for school or work, and some had to rush for their flights at Changi Airport — the traffic standstill on the Causeway during the morning peak period yesterday had huge repercussions.

Ms Molly Chittick, senior sales manager from Transtar Travel, which runs round-trip shuttle services between Changi Airport and Johor, and Resorts World Sentosa and Johor, said their buses from Johor were stuck at the Causeway for hours. The company has 15 buses in Johor, with each bus ferrying about 20 to 30 passengers. The first bus was supposed to leave at around 5am yesterday and reach Singapore at about 7am. However, it only managed to enter Singapore at about 10am. The schedules of the remaining buses, which leave roughly every 30 minutes to an hour from Johor, were all delayed as a result.

“But our customers understand, they don’t blame us. They know it is not something we can control,” she said, adding that some of the customers could have missed their flights.

Other bus companies were also affected, including Singapore-Johore Express which runs services between Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal. Its terminal supervisor, who wished to be known only as Mr Toh, lamented that a typical two-hour journey took four hours yesterday morning. “We were affected, but there is nothing we can do,” he said.

Among the thousands who were caught in the jam lasting more than three hours was Mr L Thathevaraj, 67, a Singaporean who lives in Johor Baru. The retiree takes SBS Transit Service 170 from Johor to Singapore every day to meet his friends.

He described the situation yesterday as chaotic, with stranded commuters shouting angrily. As the service was suspended, he walked across the 1km Causeway. “It was horrible,” he said. Referring to the bus drivers who refused to pay the increased toll charges and left their vehicles blocking the traffic, he added: “What they did was so stupid.”

SBS Transit said 26 of its buses were stuck in Johor Baru. It stopped buses from going into Johor Baru at about 8am. By about 10am, all the buses had resumed service.

Mr Noor, a Malaysian who works as a delivery attendant in Singapore, said he was late for work because of the jam. His work starts at 9.30am, but he was still walking on the Causeway at 9am. “For the next few days, I don’t know what I’m going to do (if it happens again) — to take the bus or just walk. I probably have to tell my bosses about my situation,” he said.

Among the companies affected was Grocery Logistics of Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTUC FairPrice. A spokesman said the bus which usually ferries its warehouse staff residing in Malaysia to its workplace in Tuas was stuck in the jam. “Our staff decided to walk across the Causeway and alternative arrangements were made to take them to their workplace,” he said. Fewer than 20 employees were affected and they were an hour late for work, he added.

At around noon, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority issued an advisory, urging people who are travelling by foot along the Causeway to be careful and to take note of their personal safety. It also deployed more officers to ensure travellers are cleared smoothly without compromising security.

The ICA said it will work closely with its Malaysian counterparts to monitor the situation. “Motorists are advised to check on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before setting off,” it added. Responding to media queries, a Ministry of Education spokesperson said the ministry and the schools are monitoring the situation. They are also working with parents to make advance arrangements for their children, should the need arise, she said.