Road charge also affects locals

THE RM20 road charge (RC) to be imposed on each foreignregistered vehicle entering Malaysia via Johor from Nov 1 has raised concern not only among Singaporeans but also Malaysians who have to make frequent trips.

Oriental Daily News reported yesterday this is because many Malaysians who drive to work in Singapore daily, for various reasons, use Singapore-registered cars and the RC will be a burden.

Those who drive Malaysianregistered cars to work in Singapore are also worried as there is talk that Singapore may react to the RC by increasing the toll on Malaysian vehicles entering the republic.

Those who commute from Johor to Singapore daily to work are also worried, as more people will switch to public transport and cram in with them on buses.

Malaysian Wei Jia Jun, 35, who stays with her husband and children in Singapore, said she is already paying the equivalent of RM40 in levy for each trip back to Malaysia.

Wei said she bought a Singapore-registered car due to her work and children, who are studying in the republic.

“However, I will not cut down on the number of trips to Malaysia because of the RC. After all, we love Malaysia and most of our friends and relatives are in Johor,” she said.

Johor Road Transport Department director Mohd Rusli Mohd Darus said the department has conducted several dry runs of its RC collection system and is confident that everything will go well on Nov 1.

“The system will not cause congestion as motorists will pay with the Touch ‘n and Go card.”