ISKANDAR PUTERI: Some 50,000 motorcyclists who frequently cross over to Singapore for work using the Second Link are happy to receive a New Year's 'gift' in the form of toll abolishment effective today.
With the scrapping of the toll charge at the stroke of midnight, motorcyclists are looking at savings of between RM24.20 and RM66 a month, based of the average of 22 working days or 30 days a month respectively.
Deputy Works Minister Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir said motorcyclists can now enjoy a toll-free access to the highway, 19 years earlier than the scheduled date as per the concession agreement between the government and PLUS Malaysia Bhd.
"The move to abolish the toll charges at the Second Link, along with those at the Penang Bridge and Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah bridge, is in line with the government's concern and commitment in reducing the cost of living and improve the quality of lives of the people.
"This is a meaningful New Year's gift for those who use this highway daily and part of the government's initiatives to reduce the cost of living of the people.
"Moreover, the Singapore government has also agreed to match our decision by abolishing the toll charge for motorcyclists at Tuas beginning January 2019," said Anuar.
He said this in his speech at an event to mark the scrapping of the toll charge at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza here.
Also present were state Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang, Malaysian Highway Authority director general Datuk Aziz Abdullah and PLUS Malaysia chief operating officer Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.
Anuar said since its opening in 1998, the Second Link has proven to be beneficial for the people in the surrounding areas, especially those who commute to Singapore for work.