2nd Link toll charges to be cut

Second Link toll charges to be cut significantly

Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to reduce the toll charges for the Second Link to increase the road connectivity between the two countries.

This was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong after they met for a retreat at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Monday.

The toll charges at both sides of the Second Link, connecting Tuas in Singapore and Tanjung Kupang in Johor, would be reduced significantly, both leaders said at a joint press conference after the retreat.

The new toll charges will be announced within a month.

Mr Najib said he and Mr Lee agreed that for the two countries to further enhance their bilateral ties, the road connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore needed to be increased and smoothened.

Both leaders also announced that the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on Iskandar Malaysia, tasked to increase the connectivity between the two countries, had agreed on several moves.

Among these, the cross-border scheduled bus services will be doubled with the introduction of eight new additional routes (four from each side) between Pasar Bakti and Larkin in Johor and the two integrated resorts, Boon Lay, Yishun, Newton and Changi Airport in Singapore; and

The cross-border taxi services will also be liberalised with taxis being allowed to pick up and drop off passengers from any location on the domestic leg of that journey, instead of only at the designated taxi terminals.

The JMC has also formed a Cross Border Land Checkpoint Committee to facilitate cooperation on operational management and cross-border traffic.

As for the idea of a third link, which was floated when the two Prime Ministers met last year, Mr Najib said it's a long term project.

The immediate priority is to optimise the usage of the Second Link.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-