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There is no justification for the Johor Causeway Toll Hike!
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THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
From Sept 1, Singapore motorists must pre-register their vehicles with Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (RTD), failing which they would be denied entry to Malaysia, said a report in the New Straits Times (NST).
Motorists will be given a radio frequency identification card, upon paying a RM10 (S$3.58) road charge valid for five years. This will have to be renewed upon expiry, or when motorists change their vehicles.
Online registration is expected to open on Aug 15.
Once registered, Singapore vehicles will be allowed through Johor checkpoints for a one-month free trial from Sept 1 to 30. From Oct 1 onwards, Singapore-registered cars will be charged the RM20 per entry fee.
The pre-registration applies for all private vehicles, public buses, taxis, goods vehicles as well as diplomatic cars, a report in The Star said.
Payment for the RM20 entry free will be via the Touch n’ Go card, and will be imposed on private passenger vehicles, including multi-purpose and sports utility vehicles, the report added.
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#Malaysia‘s new entry fee ‘discriminates’ against #Singapore
vehicles: Transport Ministry http://str.sg/Ze93
SINGAPORE – A new entry fee for foreign-registered vehicles, which will be levied only on motorists entering Malaysia via Johor, “discriminates” against Singapore vehicles, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Tuesday.
The ministry added that Singapore will consider “matching” the RM20 (S$7.16) fee – that will kick in on Oct 1 – in “some form”, after the ministry has studied its implementation.
The MOT said in a press statement that it has also asked the Malaysian authorities for more details on a new policy requiring Singapore vehicles to pre-register before crossing the border.
“Such costs and inconveniences could discourage Singaporeans from going to Malaysia, in particular Johor, for leisure purposes such as shopping, entertainment, sight-seeing, holiday, etc,” a spokesman noted.
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M’sia to start charging S’pore cars RM20 entry fee from Oct 1, says minister http://tdy.sg/1IQd6ZM
GELANG PATAH — A RM20 (S$7.18) fee will be imposed on private vehicles from Singapore entering Malaysia from Oct 1 onwards, Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said in a report by The Star.
He said the RM20 Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee will be on imposed on private passenger vehicles, including multi-purpose and sports utilities vehicles.
Singapore vehicles are required to register with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), and any vehicle not registered would be refused entry into Malaysia from Sept 1.
Government vehicles, motorcycles, public buses and taxis are exempted from the fee but are still required to register with the JPJ.
He said the online registration would start on Aug 15, and vehicle owners are required to pay RM10 for the road charge (RC), which is valid for five years.
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WHETHER IT IS THE CAUSEWAY OR THE SECOND LINK, IT WILL BE RM20 PER ENTRY FROM 1ST AUGUST 2015
#Malaysia expected to levy $7.40 Vehicle Entry Permit for foreign vehicles from Aug 1 http://bit.ly/19Xc6Tw
…Free Malaysia Today
RM20 foreign car levy in August
April 4, 2015
Equipment being sought for Causeway and Second Link.
JOHOR BARU: A RM20 levy for every foreign-registered vehicle entering Malaysia from Singapore will be imposed from Aug 1.
Deputy transport minister Abd Aziz Kaprawi said the government was procuring and installing equipment at the Causeway and Second Link in Johor for collecting the fee for the Vehicle Entry Permit.
“This is the first time Malaysia is implementing the charge and definitely it will take time in terms of procuring and installing the equipment,” he told reporters today.
Abd Aziz said the same charge would be imposed if entry permits are also required for foreign-registered vehicles entering the country via other entry points such as from Thailand.
– BERNAMA
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/04/04/rm20-foreign-car-levy-in-august/
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Hasni said Sultan Ibrahim said that heavy vehicles should use the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah permanently instead of the Causeway.
Star
Saturday April 4, 2015 MYT 3:19:24 PM
Johor proposes to ban heavy vehicles from using Causeway
JOHOR BARU: Johor wants to ban heavy vehicles from using the Causeway to transport goods from Singapore in an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the link.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said a proposal on the directive would be submitted to the Federal Government for further action.
He said banning heavy vehicles from using the Causeway here would facilitate and make way for the construction of the proposed rapid transit system (RTS) linking Johor Baru and Singapore.
“His Majesty (Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Sultan Iskandar) had earlier this year brought up the issue to the state government and we’ll submit the proposal to the Transport Ministry,’’ Hasni told reporters in a press conference after launching the intervarsity engineering leadership programme 2015 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai Campus here.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/04/Johor-ban-on-big-vehicles-causeway/
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DID YOU GET ‘SHOT’ BY HIM FOR BREAKING THE LAW?
Stomper comes across ‘S’porean Sniper’ near Causeway Point: http://bit.ly/1KF7ooQ
Stomper James came across a man filming the traffic situation at Woodlands Avenue 3 near Causeway point today (Feb 9) at around 4.30pm.
The man was clad in dark-coloured attire and the Stomper feels that he is a traffic warden.
Said James in an email:
“The man was hiding behind an electrical box after a zebra crossing.
“There were not a lot of cars on the road as it was the off-peak hour.”
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This will cut travelling time, ease congestion as well as lift the financial burden of those frequently commuting between both countries due to the toll rate.
asiaone
Singapore accepts proposal to increase train services to Malaysia
PONTIAN – Traffic congestion along the Causeway could be a thing of the past as both Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to increase the number of train trips between the two countries.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said they were now looking at the possibility of increasing the trips from seven daily currently to 26
The matter, he added, was raised during the Malaysia-Singapore joint ministerial meeting held in Putrajaya recently.
“Both governments are looking into easing the travelling time between Malaysia and Singapore, particularly along the Causeway.
“I am very happy that Singapore has accepted our proposal to increase the number of trips.
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IT WAS A DRILL BUT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED BEFOREHAND, AND WAS SO REALISTIC, IT CAUSED PANDEMONIUM!
China Press Negeri Johor 柔佛州《中國報》 shared China Press (中國報)‘s photo.
安全演習而已，而且在短時間內便已恢復通關程序運作… http://bit.ly/1Cu82pw
…
Free Malaysia Today
Rumours of ‘bomb’, ‘terrorists’ causes panic near CIQ
An extremely realistic “emergeny drill” causes panic among people stuck in traffic along the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
JOHOR BAHRU: Scenes of panic broke out along the Johor-Singapore Causeway near the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complexes this afternoon when an extremely realistic “emergency drill” was carried out by the Immigrations Department and the Police at the border.
Travellers, heading south for the holidays were stuck in traffic for hours, and rumours of “bombs” and “terrorist” attacks began circulating among the crowd of bystanders, making its way quickly onto social media, such as Facebook and Whatsapp.
China Press Johor, via it’s Facebook account, posted that because the “emergency exercise” was extra realistic and carried out without any prior announcement by the authorities, people immediately started panicking fearing a worst case scenario of a bomb blast or terrorist attack.
Police have since confirmed with the China Press that the activity this afternoon was indeed just a drill, which led to heavy traffic on two lanes of the causeway.
Latest reports show that things are back to normal.
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HERE THEY COME, SINGAPOREANS WITH MONEY TO SPEND!
Hooray?
不少新加坡人趁聖誕佳節期間請假到大馬遊玩，也有不少人從大馬到新加坡準備過聖誕，導致柔佛長堤周六大塞車6小時，截至中午12時，長長車龍仍未退去！
《新明日報》攝記在長堤拍攝到的畫面，及交通網站截至中午12時的攝像畫面。
–更多詳細內容，請翻閱今早《中國報》!
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FROM JUNE NEXT YEAR, RM20 PER ENTRY. THINK OF ALL THE MONEY OUR GOVT WILL GET!
Malaysia to charge RM20 (S$7.55) entry fee for foreign-registered vehicles from Singapore http://tdy.sg/1AS9Ynu
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will charge RM20 (S$7.55) vehicle entry permit (VEP) for all foreign-registered vehicles coming in from Singapore in the middle of next year, while mulling similar charges for vehicles coming in from Thailand and Brunei.
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/rm20-entry-fee-foreign-registered-vehicles-singapore
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1kg of cannabis worth $33,000 was found in the engine compartment of this Proton Wira.
The driver of the car, a 37-year-old Malaysian man, was arrested.
1kg of cannabis worth $33,000 found in car engine compartment at Woodlands Checkpoint http://goo.gl/jDOpMg
SINGAPORE – About 1kg of cannabis was seized by immigration officials, and a suspected smuggler arrested at the Woodlands checkpoint on Saturday, Nov 22.
A routine check on a Malaysia-registered car had turned up a block of the suspected cannabis in the engine compartment.
..
Cannabis seized at Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 22, 2014. — PHOTO: CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU / IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
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DAP assistant publicity chief Teo Nie Ching said yesterday this would mean that the government-linked MRCB would rake in RM4.3 billion by the end of its 34-year concession, despite the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) highway – which terminates at the Johor Baru immigration complex – only costing RM1.2 billion.
#Malaysia #Causeway toll operator to reap “exorbitant profits” from toll hike: opposition http://bit.ly/1tTNgJX
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Toll concessionaire Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) will reap “exorbitant profits”, Malaysia’s opposition said on Monday after the government revealed that 1.5 million paying vehicles crossed the Causeway in August after a toll-hike that has begun to hit Johor’s economy.
Malaysia’s works ministry revealed in Parliament last week that in the month following the August 1 hike, 729,657 paid the toll to enter Singapore while 721,384 shelled out the increased fare going the other way.
Malaysia added RM6.80 (S$2.63) each way to the existing RM2.90 to enter Johor from Singapore for cars, while buses saw a RM5.50 increase in both directions on top of the RM2.30 already paid heading north.
According to opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), this totals close to RM11 million per month, the same as the compensation paid by the government to MRCB since 2012 when the toll hike was to come into effect but was delayed ahead of last year’s closely-fought general elections.
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Hotels in the city had also not received many bookings for December, which is usually one of the busiest for hotels in Johor.
Star
Thursday October 30, 2014 MYT 7:25:02 AM
New Causeway rates taking its toll
JOHOR BARU: Following a hike in toll rates at the Causeway, hotels here have registered a drop of between 15% and 18% in bookings and occupancy, especially by Singaporeans.
Hoteliers, however, feel this is just a temporary setback.
Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor Chapter chairman Shyam Nath Nair said the drop had been consistent since August.
“The new toll rates were introduced at the Malaysian side on Aug 1 and, a few weeks later, Singapore decided to raise the rates at their side as well,” he said at a press conference at the Renaissance Johor Baru Hotel here yesterday.
“The increase in toll rates has resulted in a decline in our customers but we believe this is only a temporary trend,” he said.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/10/30/New-Causeway-rates-taking-its-toll/
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JB car wash outlets feel the toll http://shar.es/1mywKY
JOHOR BARU – Several car wash outlets in the city have experienced a decline in business following the toll increase on both sides of the Causeway.
On Aug 1, Malaysia introduced a new toll at the JB Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint, a move reciprocated by Singapore’s Woodlands Checkpoint on Oct 1.
The new toll affected all classes of vehicles except motorcycles.
“Before the hike, we used to receive about 100 Singapore cars daily, but we are only getting about 50 or even less daily,” said Bangladeshi worker Naseer, 35.
He said most of their Singaporean customers at the outlet, which operates round-the-clock in Taman Pelangi, were regulars.
…
Another Bangladeshi worker, Hassanul, 25, who works at a car wash just next to Naseer’s, said business at the outlet had declined by 30 per cent to 50 per cent since August.
“Now, our regular customers from Singapore send their cars for washing on weekends or when there is a long holiday there, unlike two to three visits in a week previously,” he said.
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SPOTTED: A SINGAPORE TRAFFIC POLICEMAN AT THE JB CAUSEWAY.
Buying petrol on the Malaysian side? If they all did that, it would be a huge amount of money saved for the Singapore Government, wouldn’t it?
Stompers amused to see TP queueing at Woodlands checkpoint http://bit.ly/1sC1MH1
Several Stompers were tickled to see a traffic police officer also waiting in line at Woodlands Checkpoint today, Oct 10.
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A two-way trip by car via the Causeway will now cost around S$13.10 in combination with tolls levied by Malaysia.
…
There are over 5,000 Singaporean families residing in Johor Baru and at least a third of them make frequent trips here for work and school, while thousands of Malaysians cross the Causeway each day to work in Singapore.
Toll hikes: ‘Big setback’ for regular commuters http://shar.es/1aTJBq
Singaporean Fahmi Rais drives across the Causeway to drop off three of his children at schools here – Siti Nur Natasya and Mikhael Rais at a secondary school and another daughter at the Institute of Technical Education. With the toll hikes, it will cost him about $260 a month.
Every morning at 5.30am, Mr Fahmi Rais packs three of his four children into his Kia Sorento sport utility vehicle and drives across the Causeway to drop them off at school in Singapore.
The journey from their home in Johor Baru to Woodlands can take 45 minutes on a good day, and two hours if traffic is bad.
Mr Fahmi, who is a Singaporean, and his family made the move to Johor 3-1/2 years ago, to escape the higher cost of living here. But when the second round of Causeway toll hikes kicks in today, more of their savings will be chipped away.
From today, private cars will have to pay $6.50 when they leave and re-enter Singapore. Coupled with the RM16.50 (S$6.40) toll on the Malaysian side, Mr Fahmi will end up paying about $13 for a round trip, or about $260 per month.
“I’ll just have to absorb the costs,” said Mr Fahmi, 46, who owns a branding and training consultancy firm in Singapore.
“But the hikes are not justifiable because I still have to deal with the jams at the Causeway.”
Those who have to commute to and fro daily said that the toll hikes are a huge setback.
—
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Causeway toll hike: Malaysian police on standby, but not called into action http://cna.asia/1uA152G
Channel NewsAsia Channel NewsAsia correspondent Sumisha Naidu reported that Malaysia police were on standby on Wednesday morning for any possible protests. However, the police were not called into action.
The calm scenes stand in contrast to Aug 1, when Malaysian buses ferrying factory workers into Singapore at the Johor checkpoint stopped to protest the new toll charges imposed by the Malaysian government.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/day-1-of-toll-hike/1390898.html?Cid=FBSG
http://bit.ly/1tg78ns
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The road leading to the Causeway from Malaysia at 7.30am on Oct 1, 2014. — ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
…
Smooth traffic on Causeway as new toll charges kick in on the Singapore side http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/smooth-traffic-causeway-new-toll-charges-kick-the-singapore-side-2014#sthash.Sh75wSOd.dpuf …
SINGAPORE – Drivers on the Seletar Expressway were reminded of new toll charges through overhead electronic signs, as the fee hike kicked in on the Singapore side on Oct 1.
Traffic was smooth on the Causeway in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the first day the revised toll charges on the Singapore side come into force.
It appeared to be business as usual when The Straits Times visited the Woodlands Checkpoint at 5.30am, with the new charges kicking in without a hitch.
Yahoo Singapore 
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CAUSEWAY TOLLS, MALAYSIA’S AND SINGAPORE’S: Why did Singapore raise its tolls?
Singapore to Malaysia, “You raise yours first!”
Malaysia to Singapore, “Our coffers are meant to get FAT, not yours!”
The Singapore Government has said repeatedly that if Malaysia does away with the increase or the toll, it would do the same.
明潭☾★☀時報 [Singapore TODAY] http://tdy.sg/1moAHGi – The Malaysian Cabinet is worried about Singapore’s decis…: http://… http://on.fb.me/1myKQ3x
JOHOR BARU — The Malaysian Cabinet is worried about Singapore’s decision to raise toll charges at the Causeway, Malaysia Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai was quoted by The Star as saying. He added that he and Malaysia’s Foreign Minister will be meeting their Singapore counterparts to “find a solution”.
Singapore’s decision to increase toll charges starting Oct 1 — as part of a long-standing matching policy — followed Malaysia’s imposition of higher toll fees on Aug 1. After the higher toll at the Woodlands Checkpoint kicks in, motorists will have to pay more than five times more for a round trip — with the exception of motorcyclists, who are exempted — which Malaysians who commute here for work daily have expressed concern about.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Johor Malaysian Chinese Association convention on Saturday, Mr Liow said he would explain to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew that the toll collected at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex was meant for the upgrading of the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL).
“Only motorists using the EDL pay toll when they enter the CIQ,” he said, urging Singapore to reconsider its decision.
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Singapore: Revised tolls at Causeway to match Malaysia from Oct 1, 2014.
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It will cost
#Singapore cars S$13 for a round-trip to#JB via#Causeway startg next month http://bit.ly/1unybkA pic.twitter.com/9pVAV6Ws9V
…
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Revised Causeway tolls: Cars leaving
#Singapore can now expect to pay $3.80, up from $1.20 http://bit.ly/1tFXKuO pic.twitter.com/5HduGD6WGS…
Revised tolls at Causeway to match Malaysia http://shar.es/11TvHd via
@STcom
The Straits Times SINGAPORE – Singapore will revise its toll charges at the Causeway to match those of Malaysia.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Friday that from Oct 1, toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, leaving Singapore across the Causeway will be increased to match the new Malaysian fee.
Cars leaving Singapore can expect to pay $3.80, up from $1.20. Vans and light goods vehicles will see a hike from $1.90 to $5.80 while heavy good vehicles will see an increase from $2.60 to $7.70. The toll for leaving Singapore will increase for taxis from $0.60 to $1.90, and for buses this will increase from $1 to $3.10.
A new toll will be also introduced for non-motorcycle vehicles entering the country.
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Berita Malaysia News Singapore LTA: Document detailing Causeway toll increase is fake http://bit.ly/1o9VbO4
…
Star
Saturday September 6, 2014 MYT 5:04:40 PM
Singapore LTA: Document detailing Causeway toll increase is fake
JOHOR BARU: A fake press release, purportedly issued by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, is circulating on social media, claiming that the island republic has revised toll rates at the Causeway.
The release, was widely circulated via Facebook and WhatsApp, bearing Singapore’s Land Transport Authority logo on Friday.
The release claimed that the new rates would take effect on Sept 15.
The release also had a table detailing the current and “new” toll rates.
In a statement, an LTA spokesman clarified that they had not issued any statement on the revision of toll charges.
Sources said that Singapore authorities have already started investigations into the fake release.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/06/Causeway-toll-increase-doc-fake/
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THIS REPORT IS WRONG, BASED ON A FAKE RELEASE!
Now, motorists going between Singapore and Malaysia will have to pay at both the Singapore and Malaysia checkpoints going in both directions. This means that travellers must pay 4 tolls just to make a round trip in either direction.
The Real Singapore
NEW TOLL HIKE AT WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT EFFECTIVE FROM SEPTEMBER 15
The Land Transport Authority has just announced the revised tolls to be charged at the Singapore Causeway in response to the recently raised fees at the Johor Customs and Immigrations Checkpoint.
In a news release yesterday, LTA explained that Malaysia had raised their tolls on 1st August.
They said that Singapore has a “long standing” policy of matching Malaysia’s rates for determining Singapore tolls and so Singapore would also be increasing fees.
The new Singapore-side tolls will take effect from 15 September.
http://therealsingapore.com/content/new-toll-hike-woodlands-checkpoint-effective-september-15
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CHINA PRESS POINTS OUT THAT THIS IS FAKE!
不過，消息說，有關方面曾向當局求證此事時，對方否認曾發表此文告。
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Star
Friday August 15, 2014 MYT 7:52:39 AM
Driver escapes burning lorry at JB checkpoint
JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver making a routine delivery to Singapore got a shock when his vehicle suddenly caught fire at the immigration checkpoint here.
D. Chandran said he was about to drive into Singapore with his lorry carrying sand at around 5.45pm when he said he heard “a funny sound from the vehicle”.
“I smelt smoke and saw flames. I scrambled out of the lorry because I was afraid it would explode,” he said.
Chandran said he had just sent the lorry for maintenance and speculated that there could have been a wiring malfunction that caused the fire.
“I then contacted the authorities for help,” he said, adding that he was lucky no one was injured.
Driver escapes burning lorry at JB checkpoint
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False alarm triggers lockdown at Woodlands Checkpoint http://cna.asia/1oRpOvP
The Woodlands Checkpoint was shuttered for 40 mins after the alarm went off, but authorities say there was “no incident”.
Woodlands Checkpoint during the lockdown (Photo: Kerin Young)SINGAPORE: The Woodlands Checkpoint was closed for 40 minutes on Thursday evening (Aug 14), after an alarm was activated at about 8.30pm. Authorities clarified that “no incident” had occurred but investigations are ongoing.
…
Travellers were said to be prevented from entering or leaving the building during the lockdown. Pictures and videos put up by netizens showed a long queue outside the Checkpoint, and a massive jam on both sides of the checkpoint.
– CNA/ly
…
Woodlands checkpoint lockdown? 有网民提供消息，兀兰关卡今天傍晚大约8时15分突然关闭一小时，所有人都被禁止进、出关卡,大批公众无法通关。 http://bit.ly/1sYOIuA pic.twitter.com/weXAwA1hDk
…
The Real Singapore
WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT LOCKED DOWN FOR OVER AN HOUR
Woodlands Checkpoint was suddenly locked down this evening at around 8:15pm and travellers were prevented from going in or out of the checkpoint building.
Large crowds were left stranded and unable to pass through the immigrations building.
Witnesses reported that there was an alarm that was going off and the doors were sealed shut. Those inside the building were unable to proceed as all the counters were closed.
By about 9:20 one of the doors were opened again and hundreds of people started to rush through, pushing and shoving.
There were several people who fell down but no announcement was made as to what the cause of the sudden lock down was.
About 10 minutes later, more doors were open and the crowds were finally able to start moving normally.
…
It remains unknown what caused the sudden lockdown.
WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT LOCKED DOWN FOR OVER AN HOUR
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