Singapore to match Malaysia’s new toll charges in next few weeks

SINGAPORE — The Republic will match Malaysia’s new toll charges in the next few weeks, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) today (Aug 1).

“As details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier, LTA would need some time to operationalise the changes,” said a spokesperson in response to media queries.

The spokesperson added that if Malaysia reduces or does away with the toll charges, which took effect today, Singapore will follow suit.

Kuala Lumpur had announced earlier that it would increase the toll and introduce new ones at the Sultan Iskandar Building checkpoint, which connects to the Causeway. The new tolls come on top of a proposed Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) by Malaysia for foreign vehicles entering Johor, which could be at least RM50 (S$19.50).

Prior to these tolls, cars entering Johor through the Sultan Iskandar checkpoint must pay a one-way charge of RM2.90, and there are no tolls when exiting.

The new toll charges for vehicles heading into Singapore are RM6.80, RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 and RM5.50 for Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles, respectively. Only motorcyclists are exempted from paying toll.

The statement in full:

Malaysia’s New Causeway Toll Charges

In response to media queries, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson noted that Malaysia has increased toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor through the Causeway, as well as introduced a new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore, both with effect from today, 1 August 2014. LTA understands that these Causeway toll changes are different from Malaysia’s earlier announcement to impose an entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.

The spokesperson reiterated that Singapore has a long-standing policy of matching our toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia, and that Malaysia is aware of this policy. The Singapore Government will thus match Malaysia’s new toll charges in the next few weeks. As details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier, LTA would need some time to operationalise the changes.

The LTA spokesperson noted that the media had reported that the Malaysian authorities would be reviewing the tolls. He confirmed that should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit.

Singapore’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) Fees, and Malaysia’s New Causeway Toll Charges

The LTA spokesperson observed that Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees are different from Malaysia’s Causeway toll charges.

VEP and GVP fees are not intended as revenue generators or to charge vehicles for the usage of the Causeway, Second Link or other roads. Instead, they seek to equalise the cost of owning and using a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore, with that for a Singapore-registered vehicle.. The LTA spokesperson also explained that the need to revise Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees arose from the fact that this cost difference has widened in recent years.

Based on 2013 data, the VEP fee increase will only affect about one in ten foreign-registered cars. Other foreign-registered cars will not be affected as they enter and stay in Singapore on VEP-free days or during VEP-free hours.

Buses, taxis and motorcycles are not affected by the increase in Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees.