Sunday 31 August 2014
Saturday 9 August 2014
Toll hikes and the bigger picture
Toll hikes and the bigger picture
THE words “tolls” or “taxes” rarely bring smiles to people’s faces, unless they are followed by the verbs “abolished” or “reduced”.
Since the beginning of the month, I have been hearing concerns about the new toll rates at the Causeway and how it was going to affect the state’s economy.
At first, the general sentiment was that the tolls at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex was only going to affect those travelling to Singapore.
Perhaps businessmen would have more foresight on the matter, but I cannot see the bigger picture.
I posted this as my Facebook (FB) status: “How do the words ‘tolls’ and ‘taxes’ make you feel?”
I was hoping to see at least one positive comment.
Such as “gratitude”, perhaps? Yes, I can hear the laughter and feel the scorn already.
Maybe I’ve been reading too many motivational books and have become delusional.
But motivational speakers always say we have to be thankful that we are paying taxes.
All right, if the toll charges and tax are reasonable, then perhaps there wouldn’t be an uproar.
Or if the infrastructure of the building was new, then people would not mind so much.
An FB commenter also said that the petty traders are the ones who will be affected the most.
Not the affluent, but the common folk.
I guess I agree with that, as there will be a domino effect.
As it is, school bus fares have already increased.
One car wash operator had also been protesting from the first day he heard about the toll hike.
And recently, he became even more worried when he received a letter from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) that he has to pay a RM5,000 deposit for running his car wash business in the city.
A businessman whose customers are mostly from Singapore said he did not know what the deposit was for.
“Moreover, I don’t have a business licence.
“Why do I need to pay a deposit with the MBJB?”
Well, perhaps the deposit was to weed out illegal businessmen like himself or those operating illegal massage centres.
As in all things, there is always a good and bad side.
A higher toll fee may ease traffic congestion.
On the other hand, it affects business.
It may be easier to find a parking space now.
Motorists queueing at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
THE words “tolls” or “taxes” rarely bring smiles to people’s faces, unless they are followed by the verbs “abolished” or “reduced”.
Since the beginning of the month, I have been hearing concerns about the new toll rates at the Causeway and how it was going to affect the state’s economy.
At first, the general sentiment was that the tolls at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex was only going to affect those travelling to Singapore.
Perhaps businessmen would have more foresight on the matter, but I cannot see the bigger picture.
I posted this as my Facebook (FB) status: “How do the words ‘tolls’ and ‘taxes’ make you feel?”
I was hoping to see at least one positive comment.
Such as “gratitude”, perhaps? Yes, I can hear the laughter and feel the scorn already.
Maybe I’ve been reading too many motivational books and have become delusional.
But motivational speakers always say we have to be thankful that we are paying taxes.
All right, if the toll charges and tax are reasonable, then perhaps there wouldn’t be an uproar.
Or if the infrastructure of the building was new, then people would not mind so much.
An FB commenter also said that the petty traders are the ones who will be affected the most.
Not the affluent, but the common folk.
I guess I agree with that, as there will be a domino effect.
As it is, school bus fares have already increased.
One car wash operator had also been protesting from the first day he heard about the toll hike.
And recently, he became even more worried when he received a letter from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) that he has to pay a RM5,000 deposit for running his car wash business in the city.
A businessman whose customers are mostly from Singapore said he did not know what the deposit was for.
“Moreover, I don’t have a business licence.
“Why do I need to pay a deposit with the MBJB?”
Well, perhaps the deposit was to weed out illegal businessmen like himself or those operating illegal massage centres.
As in all things, there is always a good and bad side.
A higher toll fee may ease traffic congestion.
On the other hand, it affects business.
It may be easier to find a parking space now.
Motorists queueing at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Sunday 3 August 2014
Expect to pay total Causeway tolls of about $12.80
Expect to pay total Causeway tolls of about $12.80
Motorists will soon have to pay higher toll rates on the Singapore side of the Causeway, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday that it will match Malaysia's new levies in the next few weeks. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Motorists will soon have to pay higher toll rates on the Singapore side of the Causeway, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday that it will match Malaysia's new levies in the next few weeks.
With the adjustment, drivers of private cars will likely have to pay about $12.80 for a round trip to Malaysia, compared to $2.30 before the changes at the Malaysia checkpoint set in yesterday.
The Malaysian authorities raised the toll rates yesterday for vehicles entering Johor from Singapore, and introduced a new toll for those driving in the other direction. Cars pay a toll of RM9.70 (S$3.80), up from the previous RM2.90. Those travelling from Johor to Singapore previously paid no toll, but are now subject to a new charge of RM6.80.
~News courtesy Of Straits Times~
Motorists will soon have to pay higher toll rates on the Singapore side of the Causeway, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday that it will match Malaysia's new levies in the next few weeks. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Motorists will soon have to pay higher toll rates on the Singapore side of the Causeway, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday that it will match Malaysia's new levies in the next few weeks.
With the adjustment, drivers of private cars will likely have to pay about $12.80 for a round trip to Malaysia, compared to $2.30 before the changes at the Malaysia checkpoint set in yesterday.
The Malaysian authorities raised the toll rates yesterday for vehicles entering Johor from Singapore, and introduced a new toll for those driving in the other direction. Cars pay a toll of RM9.70 (S$3.80), up from the previous RM2.90. Those travelling from Johor to Singapore previously paid no toll, but are now subject to a new charge of RM6.80.
~News courtesy Of Straits Times~
Saturday 2 August 2014
S'pore will match Malaysia’s new toll charges
S'pore will match Malaysia’s new toll charges in next few weeks: LTA
The Government will match Malaysia’s new toll charges in the next few weeks, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (Aug 1), in a statement issued in response to Malaysia's increase in toll charges for vehicles travelling from Singapore to Johor, and to the implementation of new Causeway toll charges on vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore.
Malaysia's increased toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor through the Causeway and its new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore both took effect today. The LTA understands that these changes are different from Malaysia’s earlier announcement to impose an entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.
The move to match these new toll charges would be in line with Singapore's long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia, and Malaysia is aware of this policy, said an LTA spokesman.
"As details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier, LTA would need some time to operationalise the changes," the spokesman added. Noting reports that the Malaysian authorities would be reviewing the tolls, the spokesman confirmed that "should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit".
The LTA statement also pointed out the difference between Singapore’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) Fees, and Malaysia’s new Causeway toll charges:
VEP and GVP fees are not intended as revenue generators or to charge vehicles for the usage of the Causeway, Second Link or other roads. Instead, they seek to equalise the cost of owning and using a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore, with that for a Singapore-registered vehicle. The need to revise Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees arose from the fact that this cost difference has widened in recent years.
Based on 2013 data, the VEP fee increase will only affect about one in 10 foreign-registered cars. Other foreign-registered cars will not be affected as they enter and stay in Singapore on VEP-free days or during VEP-free hours.
Buses, taxis and motorcycles are not affected by the increase in Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of a community event on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also reiterated the rationale behind Singapore's decision to raise the VEP fees for foreign-registered vehicles entering the country. "It is to make sure that Singaporeans don't pay disproportionate to what others pay, and that foreign vehicles are charged an amount that's proportionate to the usage in Singapore to make sure that congestion is reduced." Mr Shanmugam said he believed that Johor's toll fee hike will not affect ties between Singapore and Malaysia.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
The Government will match Malaysia’s new toll charges in the next few weeks, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (Aug 1), in a statement issued in response to Malaysia's increase in toll charges for vehicles travelling from Singapore to Johor, and to the implementation of new Causeway toll charges on vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore.
Malaysia's increased toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor through the Causeway and its new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore both took effect today. The LTA understands that these changes are different from Malaysia’s earlier announcement to impose an entry fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor.
The move to match these new toll charges would be in line with Singapore's long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia, and Malaysia is aware of this policy, said an LTA spokesman.
"As details of Malaysia’s toll revisions were not made known to Singapore earlier, LTA would need some time to operationalise the changes," the spokesman added. Noting reports that the Malaysian authorities would be reviewing the tolls, the spokesman confirmed that "should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit".
The LTA statement also pointed out the difference between Singapore’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) Fees, and Malaysia’s new Causeway toll charges:
VEP and GVP fees are not intended as revenue generators or to charge vehicles for the usage of the Causeway, Second Link or other roads. Instead, they seek to equalise the cost of owning and using a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore, with that for a Singapore-registered vehicle. The need to revise Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees arose from the fact that this cost difference has widened in recent years.
Based on 2013 data, the VEP fee increase will only affect about one in 10 foreign-registered cars. Other foreign-registered cars will not be affected as they enter and stay in Singapore on VEP-free days or during VEP-free hours.
Buses, taxis and motorcycles are not affected by the increase in Singapore’s VEP and GVP fees.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of a community event on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also reiterated the rationale behind Singapore's decision to raise the VEP fees for foreign-registered vehicles entering the country. "It is to make sure that Singaporeans don't pay disproportionate to what others pay, and that foreign vehicles are charged an amount that's proportionate to the usage in Singapore to make sure that congestion is reduced." Mr Shanmugam said he believed that Johor's toll fee hike will not affect ties between Singapore and Malaysia.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
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