JOHOR BARU: The Transport Ministry has denied claims that Malaysia's Road Charge under its Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system is discriminatory against Singaporean road users.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the RM20 (S$6.60) fee imposed on all foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia was not discriminatory against any quarter as the fee would later be implemented at all borders checkpoints in the country.
Liow urged the Singapore government to reconsider its move to match Malaysia's Road Charge, saying that Singapore's existing charge of S$35 (RM109) for each foreign-registered vehicle entering Singapore was a burden.
"Singapore had been implementing its VEP fee since 1973. But we (Malaysia) only implemented the Road Charge of RM20 last November.
"We will eventually implement these charges on all foreign-registered cars entering via the Thai border, Kalimantan (Indonesian border) and the East Coast in the peninsula.
"To say that there is discrimination against Singapore-registered cars is not true," Liow told reporters after a swearing-in ceremony of the 2017-2019 commitee members of the Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association here tonight.
Also present at the Johor Baru event were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association chairman Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai.
Liow said the Road Charge implemented at the Johor Causeway and Second Link since Nov 1 last year is part of Malaysia's VEP, which will be fully implemented by this year.
On Jan 9, Singapore's Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan had said that Singapore would match Malaysia's Road Charge.
He said the republic has a long-standing policy of matching any levy, toll or fee charged by Malaysia for using the road links between Singapore and Malaysia.
Khaw said such a policy was to ensure that Malaysia takes into consideration Singapore's response whenever it (Malaysia) raises its toll or introduces a new levy.
He also told Singapore's Parliament that Malaysia collected about RM13.9 million in Road Charges from Singapore vehicles between Nov 1 and Dec 20 last year.