Government officials from Malaysia will meet with those from Singapore to explain the reasons behind the implementation of toll charges at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, The Star has reported.
According to minister in the Prime Minister's department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, the transport and foreign ministries will meet Singaporean officials as soon as possible to convince the republic to reconsider its decision to hike toll fees on its side of the Causeway from October 1.
"We have to meet them personally to rectify their perception that Malaysia introduced a new charge at the CIQ to pay the concessionaire and to upgrade the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and it should not be an excuse for them (Singapore) to increase their toll charge," The Star quoted him as saying.
Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) recently announced that from October 1, Singapore's toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, leaving Singapore through the Causeway, will be increased to match the July increase on the Malaysian side.
The LTA said that it has been "a long-standing policy" for Singapore to match its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia. It also said Singapore will follow suit should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges.
Wee said Singapore's hiking of toll fees at its checkpoint to match those of Malaysia's is unjustified, and the meeting is aimed at clearing the air over the issue.
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