With Singapore about to raise the toll charges on its end of the Causeway to match Malaysia’s earlier decision to hike toll charges, bus and lorry drivers driving back and forth over the Causeway are planning to raise their fees.
Channel News Asia estimates that round trips for buses to and from Singapore will now cost SGD10.60 (RM27.25), while the cost for heavy-goods lorries will come up to SGD26 (RM66.90).
The Johor Bahru Bus Association of Factory Bus Operators and Drivers has announced that it plans to increase fees by 10 to 15 per cent, and most have already appraised their clients of the situation. The buses affiliated with the association ferry about 20,000 people, mostly factory workers, into Singapore every day.
The Johor Lorry Operators’ Association is similarly foreseeing having to pass on the added toll costs to consumers. The association said 3,000 to 4,000 of its members’ lorries pass through the Causeway every day.
Anthony Tan, president of the Johor Lorry Operators’ Association, had this to say: “The cost of transportation in and out of Malaysia is already very high. Plus the daily congestion, where we burn precious fuel. Now with the toll increase, it has added much more pressure on our operating costs.
“From some of my members’ feedback, what they will do is – how much toll charges the LTA is going to collect – we (will) charge (that) much. So for example, if the toll collection increases by S$13 (RM33.45), I predict that this S$13 will be transferred to the consumer as a toll surcharge.”
Managing director of bus operator Transtar Travel, Elson Yap, said the raised toll fees will likely cost his company an additional SGD20,000 (RM51,000) a month. That rise in cost will most likely have to be transferred onto the passengers.
