Dr Boo prescribes remedies to ease Johor toll issue

DAP’s Dr Boo urges the government to review its entire toll collection system at the Causeway to ease the people’s burden.

JOHOR BARU: Johor State Assembly Opposition Leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau is urging the government to review concessions awarded to PLUS and MRCB in efforts to ease the people’s burden of having to pay increased toll at the Causeway.

Dr Boo said the government should “consider the possibility of having PLUS shoulder the construction costs of the EDL and abolish all toll collection at Iskandar CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex)”.

He said this was in response to Singapore’s pledge it would do the same at the Woodlands CIQ if Malaysia abolished collection at the Causeway.

He said, “On the contrary, Malaysia could impose VEP with the equivalent amount of the VEP imposed by Singapore on foreign registered vehicles.”

According to Dr Boo, once this was done, funds collected could be used to improve the public transportation system in Johor Baru.

He added, if both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments could work together and abolish toll collection concurrently, it would improve the economic and cultural ties between Malaysia and Singapore.

In regard to reducing traffic jams, Dr Boo suggested the possibility of introducing smart identification cards and a biometric identification system for both countries.

He also said, “Proposals have been raised for KTM Bhd to increase services specifically between the Johor Baru Railway Station and the Woodlands Railway station only during rush hours – that is, between 5am to 9am and 5pm to 10pm in order to reduce traffic jams at the Causeway.”

Dr Boo also emphasised that in light of the increased toll charges, municipal bus services must also improve.