PUTRAJAYA: Several proposals to reduce congestion on the Johor Causeway including revision of levy and toll rates at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua) would be tabled in the Cabinet tomorrow (Feb 7).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the revised toll and levy rates would be announced by the prime minister in due course.
It was reported that the levy for commercial and heavy vehicles using the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link had been reduced from RM200 to RM50, as part of efforts to reduce congestion at the Johor Causeway.
The revised levy rate for Linkedua is expected to be reduced by up to 40 per cent for heavy and commercial vehicles.
"Other suggestions that will be tabled in tomorrow's Cabinet meeting include to upgrade the special committee to address Johor Causeway congestion issues into a special taskforce.
"I will chair a special taskforce which will provide short, medium and long-term solutions to handle the congestion issues.
"At the same time, the committee proposes that Singapore should form its own taskforce so that periodic meetings can be held between the two countries to come up with solutions to the congestion issues" said Zahid after he chaired the special committee meeting to address Johor Causeway congestions today.
One of the main reasons that lead to congestion at the Johor Causeway, Zahid said, was due to bottleneck issues.
"We have identified several issues that cause the congestion and have alerted the relevant departments and agencies including the Works Department to rectify them."
The deputy prime minister also said the committee wanted the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex facilities to be upgraded to improve efficiency and boost security.
He added the facilities must be equipped with new technology and updated security system.
Zahid said holistic solutions needed to resolve congestion, infrastructure and security issues that would affect both Malaysia and Singapore.
In anticipation of a huge volume of people moving through the Johor Causeway during the upcoming Chinese New Year Celebration, he said, People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) members would be deployed to the area.
"We are taking immediate measures including deploying about 150 Rela members to the area to man traffic dispersal and to give some assistance to the police there," Zahid added.
He said the people movement crossing the Malaysia- Singapore border via land was recorded about 300,000 daily.
For the Chinese New Year festival, the deputy prime minister expected nearly half-a-million would cross the border down south.
According to the Immigration Department statistics, 101.69 million people were recorded crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border between 2015 and 2017.