Toll Charges

Singapore increased VEP (Vehicle Entry Permit) on 1 Aug 2014. The purpose is to limit vehicles entering Singapore between 2 am to 5 pm. Beyond the time limit it is free. On school holidays, the time frame is 2 am to 12 pm. This seems to be in line with the concept of limiting the number of cars in Singapore.

Malaysia ups its toll charges on the same date. It also introduces new toll charges for travelling from Johore to Singapore. That means the toll applies both direction.

Since Singapore only charges a fee for vehicles exiting Singapore previously, LTA anounced that Singapore will match the toll charges set by Malaysia. It couldn't be less fair to do so.

However, this means that each car will have to pay 5.7 times on a return trip. It is a heavy load to those frequent travelers.

There are a lot of complaints obviously. Many said that it is unjust to do so. Many blamed LTA for blindly matching the charges.

It is true that Singapore increased the VEP first. However, the purpose is not to increase the toll for vehicles entering Singapore. It does not have entry toll in the first place. It does allow free entry beyond the stipulated time frame though. Thus it should not be viewed as entry toll charges.

Malaysia obviously take it as a toll increase regardless and thus it adjusts its toll rate too. But VEP is for vehicles entering Singapore, thus Malaysia introduces new toll for vehicles entering Malaysia. Now that is a toll that applies at all times and it applies to both directions.

LTA subsequently announced that it will match Malaysia toll charges on top of the VEP as Singapore does not consider VEP as a toll charge. Why does LTA matches the toll charges? Well, VEP is for foreign vehicles entering Singapore during working hours. Toll charges is for ALL vehicles entering Singapore. It is a very different thing.

Since Malaysia says it is to pay for the maintenance of EPL which, according to a commentor in TODAY, is not necessary means that vehicles using the EPL need to pass through CIQ, it simply means that the toll is for vehicles entering and exiting Malaysia. Surely it is not unfair for Singapore to match the tolls in the same way.

In the end, the vehicle user had to fork out the extras regardless. For those Malaysians working in Singapore and those Singaporeans in Iskandar and else where, it means they have to pay for the extras each day.  It is a loss loss situation.