SINGAPORE, Sept 9 — Singapore has announced its intention to match Malaysia’s new and increased Causeway toll charges effective August 1 in due course.          

Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said in an oral reply to a question raised in Parliament that the policy of matching toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link reflected the shared nature of the two crossings, and ensured a fair distribution of total revenue from the crossings.          

The minister was asked whether the Land and Transport Authority (LTA) planned to review its long-standing policy of matching toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia in future.       

“Without a matching policy, lower toll charges by one side may simply be offset by higher tolls rivalled by the other side,” she said.          

Teo said there was no assurance that toll charges foregone by one side would be translated into lower total charges which benefited motorists.          

To another question, on whether a whole-of-government study had been carried out by Singapore to assess the prospect of higher toll charges on Singapore businesses operating in the Iskandar Malaysia zone in Johor, Teo said: “The government has limited information on the cost structures and market conditions of Singapore businesses operating in the Iskandar zone in Johor.”          

But, she said, there would be some impact on their costs.          

“We note reports in the Malaysian media that the Malaysian authorities would review the tolls. Should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit. This would be welcomed, I think, by both Singapore and Malaysian businesses on both sides of the Causeway,” she added. — Bernama