Follow Immigration, follow Singapore: Huang Jiahao (30, bank clerk), who drives to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, with his girlfriend once a month for shopping, said in an interview: "The traffic situation at noon is no different from the past. We spent an hour or two clearing customs, and I didn't feel that more people were entering Malaysia today."
With the Woodlands Checkpoint entry toll set to increase in a few days, Singaporeans did not rush to drive across the Johor-Singapore Causeway to Malaysia for shopping on the last weekend before the fee hike. Although there were queues of cars at both the Singapore and Malaysia checkpoints, traffic on the Causeway remained relatively smooth.
Yesterday was the last Saturday before the Land Transport Authority (LTA) increases the Woodlands Checkpoint toll on the 1st of next month. Many Singaporeans who drove across for shopping said in interviews that the traffic situation on the Causeway was largely the same as usual, and the process of entering Malaysia was smooth.
Huang Jiahao (30, bank clerk), who drives to Johor Bahru with his girlfriend once a month for shopping, said in an interview: "The traffic situation at noon is no different from the past. We spent an hour or two clearing customs, and I didn't feel that more people were entering Malaysia today."
Liao Shuhui (37, secretary) visits her grandmother in Johor Bahru with her husband every week. Although she felt that the traffic at the checkpoint yesterday was no different from the past, she noted that "the traffic volume is still high, it's terrible." She said in an interview: "I actually don't mind the Singapore and Malaysian authorities charging higher entry tolls at their respective checkpoints, because this might help reduce the traffic volume and save some time for those of us who have legitimate business to attend to."
Following Malaysia's increase in vehicle tolls at the Johor Bahru checkpoint in August, the LTA announced this month that it would adjust the tolls at the Woodlands Checkpoint accordingly starting October 1st. Like Malaysia, it will also change from a one-way to a two-way toll system, and all vehicles entering Singapore (except motorcycles) will be required to pay an entry fee. Currently, the toll for private cars traveling between the two places is 7.70 dollars. After the new fees are implemented, driving a private car back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia via the Causeway will cost 13 dollars, an increase of about 70 percent over the current rate.
Regarding the magnitude of the toll increase, the Singaporeans interviewed felt it was on the high side, but not enough to affect their habit of shopping in Johor Bahru. Li Shengchun (59, sales manager), who goes to Johor Bahru every week or two to buy daily necessities, said: "The new fee is a bit high, but I will still come when necessary. After all, the cost of living here is still cheaper than in Singapore."
IT manager Lai Zhiwei (39), although considering the magnitude of this toll adjustment "outrageous," said he would still maintain his habit of traveling to Johor Bahru with his family once a month. He said: "What is the underlying reason for the authorities to increase the toll? Will the traffic congestion improve? As helpless consumers, we can only accept it helplessly."
Johor Chief Minister Khaled Nordin previously explained the authorities' decision to increase the toll, stating that in addition to covering the high maintenance costs of the Eastern Dispersal Link, the central government also hopes to ease traffic congestion at the Johor Bahru checkpoint. As for the reason for Singapore's corresponding toll increase, the LTA pointed out that Singapore's consistent policy in setting checkpoint vehicle tolls is to refer to and match Malaysia's fees. "This reflects the nature of the Johor-Singapore Causeway being shared by both countries."
Although traffic on the Causeway was generally smooth yesterday, members of the public taking public buses into Malaysia reported that the passenger volume was much higher than usual. Wu Yumei (68, housewife), who returns to Johor Bahru once a month to visit relatives, said: "It usually takes me two hours to get back to Johor Bahru from Yishun on a Saturday morning, but today it took three hours. It might be because some drivers decided not to drive in after the toll hike and came to try taking the bus today to adapt."
It is understood that the customs clearance system at the Woodlands Checkpoint experienced issues yesterday afternoon, causing queues at many clearance counters and extending the time required for customs clearance.
