JOHOR BARU: Small and medium businesses in south Johor have urged the government to look into their predicament, following the rise in the soon-to-be imposed toll on the Singapore side of the Causeway here.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Association of Malaysia president Teh Kee Sin said its members fear that the tolls on both sides of the Causeway will hit them economically as most of the businesses in south Johor are dependent on Singaporeans.
"Come Oct 1 when Singapore imposes its new toll rates, such a move will significantly affect the livelihood of the SME's in south Johor," he said at the South Chinese Press Club here today.
Teh said he hoped the government could assist in this matter as an effort to bring harmony for the two countries and make Johor and Singapore a model for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).
He said such a move can also be through a reduction on the present toll at the Sultan Iskandar Building's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) which was enforced on Aug 1.
Earlier, more than 15 SME business owners were present to support the association's move in urging the government to look into their predicament.
Present was South Johor SME Association president James Tan Tien Chong and its vice-president Tan Beng Sen.
Tan said many of its 600 members in south Johor are already feeling the pinch due to the toll on the Malaysian side.
"Some of our members have reported a drop of between 20 percent to 30 percent in business, mainly in the entertainment and service industries," he said, adding that the Singapore toll on Oct 1 will add to the consumers burden as prices of goods and services increase.
Teh said the association appealed to the government to look into the matter urgently as south Johor's business is unique in the sense that it is dependent on Singaporeans as well as locals to grow.
"We are in the process of sending a letter requesting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to assist us.
"The letter will also be forwarded to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and also MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai," he said.