Shahrir wants public transports exempted from CIQ toll
(The Star) – Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad has suggested that buses and taxis be exempted from paying toll at the Sultan Iskandar Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) building.
He stressed on the need to improve the public transport system.
Given a choice, commuters travelling between Johor Baru and Singapore would opt for buses or taxis if the public transport was reliable, he told reporters after hosting a Hari Raya open house here.
“The main issue here (at the CIQ) is congestion. If we can reduce the number of private cars using the Causeway, it will be good for public transport operators,” he said.
Toll rates for vehicles coming into Malaysia are now RM9.70, RM14.70, RM19.70, RM4.80 and RM7.80 for the respective Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles. Taxis (Class 4) are charged RM4.80 and buses (Class 5; RM7.80).
Rates for outbound vehicles are RM6.80, RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 and RM5.50 respectively. (Taxis are charged RM3.40, buses RM5.50).
Motorcyclists are exempted from paying toll.
The Malaysian Highway Authority has explained that the collection was needed for the maintenance of the Eastern Dispersal Link and other CIQ facilities.
Despite the charges which came into effect on Friday, Shahrir said many Malaysians still preferred to drive to Singapore due to the unreliable public transportation.
“We should introduce shuttle bus services at designated pick-up points in Iskandar Malaysia to ferry commuters going to the republic from the JB Sentral transportation hub,” he said.
He hoped the Government would speed up the Rapid Transit System project connecting Johor Baru and Singapore to improve connectivity between both countries.
KTM Bhd should also increase its train services between Johor Baru and Woodlands, he added.
At another event, the state’s largest Chinese representative organisation, Johor Baru Tiong-Hua Association, said it was seeking a review of the toll rates.
Its president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai said the newly implemented rates were steep for Malaysians with lesser paid jobs in the republic like factory staff.
The association, he said, had written to several Cabinet ministers on the matter.
“We wanted to bring it up to their attention so that the matter could be raised at the Cabinet for discussion,” he said yesterday.
Tey was accompanying Johor Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Tourism Exco Datuk Tee Siew Kiong at the “I Love Malaysia” mural drawing competition at Plaza Sentosa here.
