Taxis from Malaysia exempted from new Singapore road charge: LTA
JOHOR BARU — Taxi-drivers in Johor have urged the Singapore authorities to exempt them from a newly introduced Reciprocal Road Charge (RRC) that will take effect next month.
A traffic jam at the Causeway. Photo: AFP
SINGAPORE — Taxis from Malaysia will not have to pay the new Reciprocal Road Charge (RRC) that will take effect next month for foreign cars entering Singapore, the Republic’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) clarified on Thursday (Jan 19).
“The Reciprocal Road Charge is not applicable to foreign-registered taxis,” said a LTA spokesperson in response to queries from TODAY, following concerns from Johor-based taxi drivers that they will have to pay the S$6.40 RRC when they enter Singapore.
Earlier on Thursday, the Johor Baru-Singapore Taxi Terminal chairman Muhamad Najib Abdul Rahman urged Singapore authorities to exempt them from the RRC, noting that if the RRC is meant to mirror Malaysia’s Road Charge (RC) of RM20 (S$6.40), they should be exempted as Singapore taxis need not pay the RC.
“We are hoping that since Malaysia has given Singapore taxis an exemption from the RC, the Republic will give us similar treatment,” he was quoted saying by The Star newspaper on Thursday (Jan 19), adding that some 200 Johor taxis ferry passengers into Singapore via the Causeway.
From Feb 15, all foreign-registered cars have to pay the RRC when they enter Singapore via the Tuas or Woodlands checkpoints.
The LTA had said the implementation of the RRC is to mirror Malaysia’s RC for non-Malaysia-registered cars entering Johor, which was implemented on Nov 1 last year.
Singapore’s decision to impose the RRC has been met with criticisms in Malaysia.
“We unanimously oppose the move to impose a Reciprocal Road Charge, as it affects Malaysians. (We) view (it) as a gesture of provocation,” The New Straits Times quoted Mr Hahasrin Hashim, head of the Johor Youth Wing of the United Malays National Organisation, as saying in a statement earlier this week.
Last week, Malaysian opposition lawmaker Wong Shu Qi of the Democratic Action Party told the media: “A toll war on both sides of the Causeway essentially creates a toll wall alienating people, families and businesses in Johor and Singapore.” AGENCIES
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