Singapore’s move to implement road charge slammed in Malaysia

JOHOR BARU — Singapore’s decision to impose a S$6.40 charge for all foreign-registered vehicles entering the Republic from the Causeway has drawn flak in Malaysia, with some critics deeming the move “provocative”.

Mr Hahasrin Hashim, head of the Johor Youth Wing of the United Malays National Organisation, said Malaysians who live in Johor Baru and work in Singapore will have to pay about RM165 (S$52.60) instead of RM145 when the Reciprocal Road Charge (RRC) kicks in from Feb 15. “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 him as saying in a statement. 

The RRC will be on top of the existing charges of around S$45 that comprise the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) levied by Singapore, as well as relevant toll charges levied by both governments when vehicles use the Causeway.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority says the implementation of RRC is to mirror Malaysia’s Road Charge (RC) of RM20 per entry for non-Malaysia- registered cars entering Johor, which was implemented on Nov 1 last year.

Mr Hahasrin said Malaysia has not responded to Singapore having had the VEP in place for 44 years. “The move (RRC) has prompted the (Malaysian) federal government to engage in a dialogue with the Singapore Government to end this ‘victim’ stance adopted by Singapore,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian government says that while it respects Singapore’s implementation of the RRC, the Republic needs to understand Malaysia’s stand on road charges. 

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Malaysia’s VEP is different compared to Singapore’s.

“Owners of foreign-registered vehicles would only have to pay a registration fee of RM10 which comes with a radio-frequency identification tag,” The Star newspaper quoted Mr Liow as saying. “After five years, they will renew it for another RM10. I would like to make this very clear so the Singaporeans will understand that we’re not actually taking reciprocal action against them for the VEP that they introduced back in 1973.”

Mr Liow said Malaysia will continue to engage Singapore through dialogue to make the latter understand Kuala Lumpur’s decision on road charges.

“We are not discriminating against Singaporean cars,” he maintained. “We will also introduce the same road charges at the Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei borders. From time to time, we can review our VEP charges, the mechanism and the way we charge.” AGENCIES