Factory workers walk to Singapore after new toll rates kick in

The Malaysian Highway Authority went ahead with a 400% toll hike today at the Causeway despite criticism from the public and Johor lawmakers. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 1, 2014.

Stage buses transporting factory workers from Johor Baru refused to continue their journey into Singapore this morning following the toll hike at the Causeway, which came into effect today, The Star reported.

Scores of Malaysian factory workers travelling to Singapore were forced to walk across the Causeway after factory buses refused to cross the checkpoint.

The Malaysian Highway Authority went ahead with a 400% toll hike at the Causeway despite criticism from the public and Johor lawmakers from both sides of the political divide as being unfair and burdensome to those working in Singapore.

With the hike, a motorist who used to pay RM2.90 one way would now pay RM16.50 while buses which used to pay RM2.30 had to pay RM13.30 under the new rates.

Taxis will have to pay a total of RM8.20, up from the previous RM1.40.

Toll for Class Two vehicles will go up from RM4.50 to RM24.90 while Class Three vehicles would have to fork out RM33.30 both ways, up from the previous RM6.10.

The revised toll rate at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru comes on the heels of Putrajaya’s plans to introduce a vehicle entry permit (VEP) fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.

Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, using his Twitter handle @khalednordin, had tweeted "Johor will hold talks with bus companies to provide express services for locals working in Singapore".

Umno lawmaker Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed was among those who had criticised the toll hike, and called for it to be postponed pending further analysis.

"I don't understand the rationale for the toll hike that is clearly going to burden the people in Johor who work in Singapore, when they still have to go through heavy traffic on a daily basis," Nur Jazlan had said.

The Public Accounts Committee chairman added that the rationale that the toll hike was needed to bear the cost of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) did not make sense.

"EDL is a privatisation project that is supposed to benefit the public and not incur higher toll," he said.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong had also said the new rates were a heavy blow to Malaysians who commute daily to the island republic for work and that many may opt to use motorbikes as an option, which would lead to more road accidents and deaths.

"All these hardships are imposed because the cronies have to be paid for the highway and other projects they built.

"It is totally unacceptable," Liew had said.

- TMI