Singapore to monitor impact of levy reduction

SINGAPORE: The island republic will monitor the impact of Malaysia’s move to reduce the Goods Vehicle Levy at the Second

Link while keeping the levy unchanged at the Causeway, says Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan (pic).

“Our officials will continue to engage on how to amend current tolls, with a view to ease the Causeway jam,” he said in his latest Facebook posting.

Khaw noted that easing the Causeway congestion was a continuing priority for him and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

“We discussed this subject every time we met.

“The recent meeting in Beijing last week was no exception.

“We discussed several ideas on how to incentivise more commuters and goods vehicles to use the Second Link instead of the Causeway, and to do so during offpeak instead of peak hours.

“We had a productive session,” he wrote.

Both ministers were in Beijing for the inaugural Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation. Khaw said Liow also gave him a heads up on Malaysia’s decision to reduce the levy at the Second Link from RM200 to RM50, while keeping the levy at RM200 unchanged at the Causeway.

“They have moved speedily and decisively on this idea. I read from media reports of their decision to do so immediately. We welcome this decision of Malaysia,” he said.

Khaw explained that the levy was a Malaysian customs charge and not a toll.

“It is applied to all goods vehicles, regardless of nationality.

“There is no such equivalent at Singapore’s end. We do not impose any levy,” he said.