GELANG PATAH – Many Singaporeans say they will make adjustments to their trips into Malaysia following the implementation of the RM20 road charge (RC).
The ruling from yesterday affected all private foreign-registered vehicles at the Johor Causeway and Second Link.
An advertisement producer who only wanted to be known as Yee, 41, said Singaporeans who wanted to enjoy the benefit of the lower currency exchange in Malaysia should not mind paying the RM20.
Retiree Joseph Chong, 62, who usually visits Johor three times a week for shopping and meals, felt the charge was unnecessary.
“My friends have business dealings here. We spend a lot at the outlets in Johor Baru each week. We feel the S$6.60 charge is unnecessary,” the Singaporean said at the Second Link yesterday.
Chong added that they normally visited Malaysia in two or three cars but will carpool from now on.
Engineer R. Senthilkumar, 42, who visits Johor Baru weekly to eat his favourite food and shop for groceries, said he would buy more at one go to make fewer trips.
The RC will be collected via Touch ‘n Go card each time a motorist enters Malaysia at the Causeway and Second Link. The initial exercise does not include motorcycles.
Traffic at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex was smooth, though there was some confusion among Singaporeans who had to pay the RC and toll fare as both the reader machines were located near each other.
Sales executive Lukas Teo, 34, said he tapped his Touch ‘n Go on the RC machine and waited for the barrier to open.
“When it did not open, a Customs staff member came to tell me that I also had to pay the toll,” he said.
Johor Road Transport Department director Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said: “The traffic and system proceeded without any hiccups and we have staff on standby for the first few days to provide help.”
An average of 20,000 foreign vehicles enter Malaysia through Johor daily via the Causeway and Second Link.
