Media Statement by Johor DAP Publicity Secretary and Senai State Assemblyman Wong Shu Qi on 5th January 2018 (Friday):
What have Liow Tiong Lai done to cease the toll war between Malaysia and Singapore?
Today is the fifth day into year 2018. The Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) toll charge has been abolished for the fifth day. Yet, we have not heard from the Singapore government whether they will abolish the reciprocal charge on their side.
By having the RM13.60 EDL toll charge abolished on the Malaysian side, Singapore should also scrap their toll charge of SGD5.30 as soon as possible. It is a fact that both governments have gained windfall incomes on the expense of road users including many Johoreans since the toll war started in 2014. As a result of the egoistic showdown by those in power, ordinary citizens have to suffer increase in expenses. Local businesses and daily travellers are gravely affected, yet the two governments continue with this irresponsible act till today.
I hereby urge Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who is the Minister of Transport, to talk to his counterpart in Singapore to make sure the Republic abolishes the reciprocal causeway toll charge. Since Singapore government always insists to match the toll charge at the Causeway, it is now the time to abolish the SGD5.30 charges to correspond with the current toll charge in Malaysia. There is no excuse to delay following the January 1 EDL toll charge abolishment.
For ordinary people, it is quite disappointing that no government leader from either side talks about the abolishment of the toll charges until today. This is a far cry from the aggressive approach taken by the leaders when implementing the charges and collecting extra income from the people a few years ago.
I sincerely hope that the issue will not be delayed further since it is already the fifth day into the new year. Let us hope that leaders of both countries can really bring new hope to the commuters who travelling frequently across the border.
Wong Shu Qi