Media Statement by Johor DAP Policy Director and Senai State Assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi on 15th April 2015 (Wednesday):
Reduce the toll charge of Second Link to solve traffic congestion on the Causeway
We have to first make the transporting of goods and people work efficiently then only can we assure a healthy and sustainable development. I wholeheartedly appreciate the idea of resolving traffic congestion on the Causeway by Tuanku. Yet, I humbly suggest that we should get the problem fixed immediately by reducing toll charge at the Second Link.
Instead of banning heavy vehicles from using Causeway, reducing the Class 2 and Class 3 vehicle toll charges at Second Link will immediately reduce the traffic congestion on the Causeway. Some heavy vehicles with their destination located nearer to Tuas Checkpoint will shift to Gelang Patah.
Almost 70% heavy vehicles are now using Causeway because the toll charges at Second Link is doubled as shown in the chart below:
|
Causeway (RM) |
Second Link (RM) |
Causeway (S$) |
Second Link (S$) |
|
| Class 2 |
24.90 |
34.20 |
9.30 |
14.80 |
| Class 3 |
33.30 |
68.60 |
13.10 |
29.40 |
*All are round trip toll charges
As in the case of class 3 vehicles, the difference of toll charges between Causeway and Second Link at both Malaysia custom and Tuas Checkpoint are more than 100%. For Class 2 vehicles, the difference of toll charges between Causeway and Second Link stand at a drastic 37% and 59% respectively at Gelang Patah and Tuas Checkpoint.
It is hence not difficult to understand why logistic companies tend to use Causeway more than the Second Link. The toll charges at Second Link are just too high compared with Causeway.
Federal government should seriously consider reducing the toll charges at Second Link to encourage more heavy vehicles to use the Gelang Patah entrance.
Besides that, it is known that certain overweight vehicles would stop at Causeway in the middle of their trip bound to the Republic if they receive information of enforcement at Singapore. This is one of the many causes that always makes the traffic congestion worse.
Hence, I urge JPJ to strictly carry out enforcement duties on the Causeway to resolve this problem that burden all commuters. It is a very good initiative taken by Tuanku to resolve the problem, federal government should heed the call to first reduce the Second Link toll charges, to encourage more logistic companies to use the Gelang Patah entrance.
Wong Shu Qi