THE levy and toll rate reduction proposal for commercial vehicles at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua) will be discussed by the cabinet tomorrow, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the reduction in toll and levy was aimed at attracting more commercial vehicles to use Linkedua to reduce traffic congestion at the Johor causeway.

“This effort is expected to be able to reduce up to 40% of commercial vehicles using the Johor causeway,” he told reporters after chairing a special committee meeting on the issue today.

The levy for commercial vehicles at Linkedua is RM200.

According to Ahmad Zahid, 300,000 to 400,000 people travel between Malaysia and Singapore via land routes daily, with the number rising to over 500,000 during festive seasons.

Ahmad Zahid said the meeting today also decided to request the cabinet to upgrade the committee to a special task force to solve the problems of congestion at the Johor causeway in the long term. 

Ahmad Zahid said the committee also proposed that the Singapore government set up a similar special action committee so that periodical meetings could be held between both sides.

The meeting was held following decisions made during the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat between Najib and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in January, which raised the issue of congestion at the Johor causeway, among others.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said about 150 People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members would be stationed at both national entry points for the Chinese New Year celebration to help the police disperse the traffic.

In addition, he said the upgrading of facilities at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security  (ICQS) Complex would be carried out to solve the congestion problems.

On the security aspect, Ahmad Zahid said security equipment such as scanners at the Johor causeway and Linkedua would also be upgraded especially to identify suspects in the Interpol, Aseanapol and Royal Malaysia Police lists.

“If the assets and equipment can be entered into a holistic solution, we can solve the issue of congestion, infrastructure and security between Malaysia and Singapore,” he said. – Bernama, February 6, 2018.