SINGAPORE WHACKS BACK: Land authority says to MATCH to Malaysian toll changes if confirmed

Singapore could raise its Causeway tolls too, if reports that Malaysia intends to do so are true, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday.

LTA was responding to media queries over reports that Malaysia's Works Ministry will raise toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, passing through the Johor Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex from Singapore to Johor Baru, and introduce a new toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore, with effect from Friday.

"It has been the Singapore Government's practice to peg Singapore's tolls to match those set by Malaysia at the Causeway and the Second Link. If there is indeed a new toll, or an increase in toll charges, at the Causeway, the Singapore Government will match the new toll and increase in toll charges in due course," the LTA spokesman said.

LTA added that the Singapore Government has not heard from the Malaysian authorities about the new toll or increase in toll charges, and has asked for official confirmation of the media reports from the Malaysian government.

The latest set of proposed toll changes follows Malaysia's announcement earlier this month that it would impose an entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.

On that matter, LTA said that Singapore has also contacted the Malaysian authorities for details and is awaiting a reply before deciding on a response.

This article by The Business Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings. -Asiaone