KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Singapore’s reduction of toll rates at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link will only be on April 1 because the city-state requires some time to make necessary adjustments, Putrajaya said today.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai also praised Singapore for quickly responding to Malaysia’s decision.
“We will start first on February 13 but they still need some time. We shall wait for their announcement but the information we have says the policy reciprocal date on Singapore’s side would be April 1.
“I commend and thank Singapore for giving a prompt response, extending full cooperation and was willing to match our rates,” he told a press conference after the launch of 2018 road safety campaign in conjunction with Chinese New Year at MyTown Shopping Centre here.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday announced that in a bid to reduce traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway, both nations have agreed on a reduced levy and toll rates at the Second Link to redirect traffic there instead.
Singapore’s Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan announced the republic will match the move earlier today.
Liow said today he is confident that this effort would reduce the number of vehicles on the Causeway by 80 per cent, regardless of the time of day.
The news, he said, would bring joy to Johoreans who work in Singapore as they would not need to wake up extremely early to commute to work on a daily basis anymore.
“With the implementation of the new rates, traffic flow will be smoother and distributed well between Causeway and the Second Link.
“We hope this would mean no more long hours stuck in traffic for Johoreans,” he said.
Effective February 13, commercial vehicles using the Second Link at non-peak hours would only have to pay RM50 of levy, compared to existing RM200, regardless of their entry points.
Meanwhile, depending on vehicle class and time of day, the new toll rates are: RM4 (previously RM7.50) for individual vehicle, RM3 (previously RM5.70) for taxis and RM4.50 (previously RM9.10) for buses.
