JOHOR BARU – Daily commuters to Singapore are dreading the impending higher transport charge after the island republic announced that it would match “in some form” Malaysia’s road charge (RC) of RM20 (S$6.60) at the two land entry points in Johor.
Private service driver Muhammad Nazeem Muhamed Sultan, 37, said the current vehicle entry permit (VEP) charges of S$35 (RM105.50) per car to enter Singapore are already way too high.
“With people now opting to use public transport to go to Singapore, I have been receiving fewer customers. If Singapore raises its VEP, I will be forced to increase my rates too.”
Also read: Some take new Malaysia road fee in stride
Starting Nov 1, Malaysia imposed the RM20 RC on foreign-registered vehicles (excluding motorcycles) at the Causeway and Second Link. The ruling is supposed to be implemented in phases at Malaysia’s other entry points bordering Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.
Although Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has assured that the move is not discriminatory against Singaporean motorists, Singapore’s Transport Ministry announced on Tuesday that it would match “in some form” Malaysia’s RC.
Also read: $6.70 road charge by Malaysia on Singapore cars discriminatory and will be matched: MOT
Singaporean motorists only pay RM37.90 (S$12.57), including RC, per entry, while for Malaysians, they will have to pay a minimum S$50 (RM150.71), inclusive of VEP, tolls and electronic road pricing (ERP) per day.
However, each foreign-registered car entering Singapore is given 10 VEP-free days per year and there is also no VEP charge during the weekends and between 5pm and 2am from Monday to Friday.
