S'poreans in JB

[snakehead]

Originally Posted by excalibur

I think this levy issue will be put on hold due to MH17. Really unfortunate for those affected.

MAS really very suay this year.... the Malaysian government needs to find money to pump into MAS as it is bleeding hundreds of millions. My friend working at Etiqa Takaful Insurance which is the main insurers for MAS is cursing her luck as the staff have been told not likely to have bonus this year due to the anticipated losses due to the MAS mishaps.... in fact her company may even go under if the government funding that is supposed to come in is not heavy enough. So I believe they will go ahead with the levy as every cent counts.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR (Malaysia) dated 19 July 2014 :-

Johor vehicle entry fee could affect ties with Singapore, say traders

JOHOR BARU - Business associations have described Malaysia's proposed fee on foreign vehicles entering Johor through the Causeway and the Second Link as unwise. Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME) Association of Malaysia national president Teh Kee Sin suggested that Malaysia should consider a different approach.

"Of course, a RM20 (S$8), RM50 (S$20) or even RM100 (S$40) levy would be significant for the country's revenue, but it would not help strengthen bilateral ties," he told The Star yesterday.

Teh said the Government should instead concentrate on transforming Johor Baru into a more vibrant and lively space, which would then lead to economic growth.

"The authorities must understand that SMEs depend on Singaporeans from the low to middle income category for the bulk of their revenue, and if Malaysia imposes the fee, less of these people would come in to spend their money," he added.

Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) president P. Sivakumar said that while charging RM20 (S$8) was acceptable, the Government should offer some flexibility.

"We should extend some goodwill by imposing the fee only during peak hours, or by reducing rates on weekends or public holidays for the benefit of genuine travellers," he added.

Malaysia's proposal is leaving folks like Danny Cheung, a sales executive at a plumbing company in Singapore, 35, caught in the middle.

"My friends and I thought that buying a Singapore-registered vehicle would mean saving on Singapore's Vehicle Entry Permit fee when entering the republic.

"Now there's another fee to pay when we re-enter Malaysia, I could be looking at spending an additional RM400 (S$160) per month," he said.

Sub-contractor Yap Chin Keong, 59, feels that the entry charge would be useful if it could reduce the number of Singaporean-vehicles entering Johor Baru.

"The charge is a good way to manage congestion as we sometimes get stuck for as long as two hours each way."
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[jbrider]

motor also kena? =.="

[excalibur]

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

Report from The STAR (Malaysia) dated 19 July 2014 :-

Johor vehicle entry fee could affect ties with Singapore, say traders

"We should extend some goodwill by imposing the fee only during peak hours, or by reducing rates on weekends or public holidays for the benefit of genuine travellers," he added.

------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

I think we go Spa chiong are not categorised as "genuine travellers"

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by jbrider

motor also kena? =.="

Motorbikes are exempted from Malaysian VEP

[jbrider]

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

Motorbikes are exempted from Malaysian VEP

i see, thanks

[excalibur]

Any bros can recommend KTVs in JB with high playability? I've checked a few in the past records about Zon, Sentosa and Jalan Molek. Not sure which is still in business. Planning for a night there. Please share if you have somewhere good in mind. And I will up your points +10. Thanks in advance!

[KatoeyLover69]

JB causeway toll up 400%

Toll rates at the Johor and Singapore gateway is to increase dramatically from 1 August 2014

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) announced an increase of about 400% for Johor-Singapore toll rates starting August 1.

The rates will apply to those leaving the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru for Singapore.

The move to revise the toll rates come in the heels of Putrajaya’s plans to introduce the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.

In a statement, the Malaysian Highway Authority said passenger car rates will be revised from RM2.90 to RM16.50 (RM9.70 inbound and RM6.80 outbound) while taxis will have to pay a total of RM8.20 (RM4.80 inbound, RM3.40 outbound), up from the previous RM1.40.

Meanwhile charges for buses will be revised from RM2.30 to RM13.30 (RM7.80 inbound, RM5.50 outbound).

It said the toll rate for Class Two vehicles will go up from RM4.50 to RM24.90 (RM14.70 inbound and RM10.20 outbound) while toll rates for Class Three vehicles was revised to RM33.30 (RM19.70 inbound, RM13.60 outbound) both ways from the previous RM6.10.

Its director-general Datuk Ismail Mohd Salleh said the revised rates were appropriate given the facilities and services enjoyed by users that traveled to the complex from the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), the elevated highway built to disperse traffic towards Johor Baru town.

On July 16, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that Putrajaya would introduce VEPs for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor.

He gave assurances that a portion of the VEP collection would be channeled to the Johor government.

Putrajaya’s move came after Singapore recently announced that effective August 1, the VEP fee for foreign-registered cars entering Singapore would be raised from S$20 (RM52) to S$35 (RM90) a day.

The Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) fee for foreign-registered goods vehicles will be raised from S$10 (RM26) to S$40 (RM103) a month.------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[limsuhup]

Just my 2 cts suggestion, think all the mp and stables should reduce the damage by Rm20 in order to courage cheongters to go jb, ha ha, seriouly just my 2 cts suggestions no offend ah !!

[KatoeyLover69]

Malaysians working in S'pore HOPPING MAD at Johor tolls hike

Malaysia's move to raise tolls significantly at Johor's main border checkpoint and to impose a new charge for Singapore-bound vehicles have sparked an outcry among Malaysians who say the charge is burdensome to those who work across the Causeway in Singapore.

Last Friday, the Works Ministry, which is under the federal government, released a statement saying that from Aug 1, all vehicles, except motorcycles, that pass through the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, otherwise known as the Sultan Iskandar Building, will have to pay higher vehicle entry fees.

Currently, private cars entering Johor from Singapore pay a one-way charge of RM2.90 (S$1.13), irrespective of whether they are local- or foreign-registered. There is no charge for cars entering Singapore from Johor at the CIQ, which connects to the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

But now a two-way toll will be collected from next month. Cars passing through the CIQ will have to pay a total of RM16.50 for a day trip to Singapore or Johor and back - that is, a fee of RM9.70 will be charged while entering Johor and an extra RM6.80 will be charged on the way out.

Buses will have to pay RM13.30 per two-way trip while taxis will be charged RM8.20.

The move has got many Malaysians working in Singapore fuming, as they have to use the Causeway daily and, so, will be most affected by the hike.

Malaysian government statistics showed that last year, 297,445 commuters, out of which more than two-thirds were Malaysians and permanent residents of Malaysia, crossed the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Tuas Second Link daily.

Ms Sarah Lee, 51, an accounts manager who has been working in Singapore for two decades, said the new charges are too steep.

"It is not like we citizens have a choice other than to drive, as the quality of public transportation here is still not good enough," she told The Sunday Times yesterday.

Technician Mr Mohd Khairul, 29, said he would go back to riding a motorcycle to work to save cost even though it is less safe. "Even if I carpool with colleagues, the travelling costs will still be too expensive for me," he said.

The new charges will be on top of another vehicle entry permit (VEP) fee, reportedly to be RM50, that the government will impose on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor Baru by the year-end.

The details of the implementation of this fee are still under discussion but the decision to impose it was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak soon after Singapore announced it was raising VEP on foreign vehicles from $20 to $35 with effect from Aug 1, 2014
- Asiaone (Singapore ) 29 July 2014
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR dated 31 July 2014 :-

Johor planning express bus services for locals working in Singapore

JOHOR BARU - Johor will hold talks with bus companies to provide express services for locals working in Singapore, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

"With such a service, people will not have to drive across the Causeway to work. That way, they won't have to pay for tolls," he said.

Apparently, the express bus service would ferry those working in Singapore, but living in Johor Baru, to five designated areas in the republic such as Boon Lay and Jurong.

Khaled was commenting about the complaints over the toll at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

It starts tomorrow ( Friday 1 August 2014 )

Travelling from Johor to Singapore is now free while motorists pay RM2.90 (S$1.14) for the return trip from Singapore.

From tomorrow, motorists will have to pay RM6.80 at the CIQ in Johor and RM9.70 when they return to Johor.

Khaled said the state government was given an assurance that a portion of the toll collected would be used to maintain the 8.1km Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL).

He allayed public concern that toll would be charged on EDL users.

"It will remain free for motorists using the EDL to get to Pasir Gudang, Stulang and on to Johor Baru city centre."

The Mentri Besar said the new toll rates were not part of the proposed Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced on July 16 the Government's decision to implement the VEP fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.

Separately, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said the authorities should make public how they arrived at the final figure for the revised toll at CIQ complex.

Chua said many people were upset about the new rates. "Ultimately, the authorities need to strike a balance between increasing revenue and ensuring that the people are not overly burdened," he said. "For example, it may be possibile to offer rebates for during weekends, off peak hours, or special rates for businesses."
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR dated 1.8.14

New toll rates at Johor Causeway on 1.8.14

JOHOR BARU: Motorists travelling to Singapore via the Causeway must now pay a total of RM16.50 for inbound and outbound toll charges at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

A spokesman from the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) Expressway said that the new toll rates started at 12.01am on Friday.

All charges will be implemented electronically at both sides using the Touch 'n' Go cards, with cash payments no longer possible.

"We will be giving out some 1,000 Touch n' Go cards with a reload value of RM10 to motorists passing through the toll.

"We estimate to hand out 200 cards daily especially during peak hours in the next five days," she told The Star when contacted.

The toll rates for vehicles coming into Malaysia are now RM9.70, RM14.70, RM19.70, RM4.80 and RM7.80 for the respective Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles.

The existing inbound charges ranged from RM1.40 (for taxis) to RM6.10 (for vehicles with three or more axles).

Rates for outbound vehicles would be RM6.80, RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 and RM5.50 starting Friday.

Motorcyclists are exempted from paying toll.

The EDL is an elevated highway built to help disperse traffic heading into the Johor Baru city area.

There are several exits from the EDL, with the last leading directly into the CIQ complex.

Motorists using the 8.6km elevated highway would not be tolled if they do not go through the CIQ complex.

A controversy erupted following the decision to impose toll collection at the Johor CIQ which forces those who do not use the EDL but want to travel to Singapore to also pay the charges.

The new toll charges were announced by the Malaysian Highway Authority last week.
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[jackbl]

Originally Posted by excalibur

Suddenly because of this news, I will go into JB only when necessary. Really deter Singaporeans from crossing over for shopping food and petrol. And of course "relax".

Yeah.... must have several purposes at a time to go in. Go massage, pump petrol, shop for daily products and have meals....

[localbest]

Originally Posted by limsuhup

Just my 2 cts suggestion, think all the mp and stables should reduce the damage by Rm20 in order to courage cheongters to go jb, ha ha, seriouly just my 2 cts suggestions no offend ah !!

Toll fees before 1 August
All cars (spore/msia) entering JB and back spore (round trip) will only need to pay toll charge of rm2.90 + $1.20 = about rm6

Toll fees after 1 August
All cars (spore/msia) entering JB and back spore (round trip) will have to pay higher toll charge of rm16.50 + $1.20 = about rm19.60

Toll fees around mid August
If by mid august, msia side did not adjust the tol fee, then spore side will match the toll fee of msia side which means all cars (spore/msia) entering JB and back spore (round trip) will have to pay toll charge of rm16.50+rm16.50= about rm33.

Spore VEP
Msia car will have to pay $35 per day. Sat/Sun/free VEP hours - free.
Spore car - free

Msia VEP
Msia govt is considering rm50 or maybe more for spore cars who enter johor to pay a VEP charge which will be implemented by end of the year.
(But still not sure is by per entry or by per day)
Msia car - free

The increase of Toll fees and VEP at both sides have many effects:

1) The causeway, custom and JB city area will not be so jam pack with vehicles. Shopping centre like citysquare & KSL will not be so overcrowded.

Only people with a need to use the causeway like students, msian who work in spore, sporean going in to jb for business, cheongsters and tourists will be going in JB and not other people who go in just for filling up petrol and no other important purpose.

2) Less sporean coming to spend in JB means that business in JB will be affected and shop owners are likely to reduce their price of goods and sevices like massage service which is also another good news to cheongsters.

Imagine last time some sporean go in JB overbuy, overpay and overtip have caused the price of goods and services to increase substantially and it is quite hard for johorian who work in JB to keep up with the cost of living.

Therefore not to spoilt the market is important so that everyone can enjoy the cheap and good services provided by those shop owners / outlets / joints.

3) Less sporean buy msia property means that the property bubble in johor will burst which is also good news because then the johorian are able to buy cheap housing again.

In 6-8 years ago, a double storey terrace house only cost 100 over thousand ringgit.

But ever since last 1-2 years ago, the price of a double storey terrace house has cost more than 600 over thousand on average that is almost 4 times more expensive.

Many johorian who work in JB suffer because their earning in ringgit are not able to afford a house which cost so expensive.

when a property in a country is cheap, one is able to consider to retire there.

But when johor property price keep increasing, the minimum price of a property sporean can buy had raised from initially rm 250000 & above in late 90s to rm 500000 & above in 2009 or 2010, and then raise again until rm 1 million & above with effect from recently 1 june or 1 July 2014

Therefore most of the genuine sporean who really wish to retire in JB really cannot make it or may have to reconsider other destination because they are unlikely to spend more than 1 million ringgit just to buy a house for retirement.

Therefore if less sporean spend in JB, the economy will drop and it may be a good news too. Because when a country or state is backward or not so advance, it will lead to cheap retirement living expenses, cheap housing cost, cheap medical fee, cheap to cheong, cheap to drive, cheap to eat, cheap products, cheap massage, and many other cheap cheap things, etc.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Straits Times (Singapore) dated 5 August 2014 :-

JB shops feel pinch as tolls kick in

JOHOR BARU - Shops at a Johor mall popular with Singaporeans experienced a significant dip in business yesterday, a day after tolls went up on the Malaysian side of the Causeway.

Petrol stations also saw fewer Singapore-registered cars as the impact from the higher tolls began to kick in.

Traffic was unusually smooth on the Causeway for a Saturday morning and even more so yesterday, which was the first weekend after Hari Raya Puasa.

"It usually takes up to two hours just to enter but, today, it took us less than an hour," said learning centre owner Fran William, 35, a Singaporean who made the trip yesterday.

This was a far cry from the chaos last Friday morning, when bus drivers on the way to Singapore refused to pay the new tolls and parked their vehicles before the Johor Baru checkpoint, causing a massive jam.

Hundreds of bus passengers were forced to continue their journey on foot.

At Friday midnight, the toll for cars entering Johor was raised from RM2.90 (S$1.10) to RM9.70, while a new charge of RM6.80 also kicked in for cars returning to Singapore.

Tolls for buses, taxis and goods vehicles were also raised.

That prompted the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to announce that it will match the new tolls in the next few weeks.

This means that cars making the round-trip will have to pay about $12.80 in toll charges, compared with $2.30 before.

With Malaysia also planning to introduce a fee of RM50 on Singapore-registered vehicles by year's end, businesses there admitted they are worried that more Singaporeans could end up staying away.

For clothing boutique SUB at City Square mall, located just a couple of kilometres from the Johor checkpoint, Singaporeans make up 70 per cent of its customers.

Sales assistant Fariha Razak said the number of Singaporean shoppers dipped by about 40 per cent yesterday.

"We are usually very crowded on weekends, but today is like a weekday - there is hardly anyone," said the 19-year-old, gesturing to an almost empty store.

"Maybe it's because of the toll."

At shoe store Summit in the same mall, sales representative Fadziatul Niza Ahmad Jamali, 32, said that there were "not so many" Singaporeans, who make up about 80 per cent of the shop's clientele, yesterday.

"We usually have sales of up to RM12,000 in one day but, on Friday, we hit only about RM5,000," she said. "We're quite worried."

The number of Singapore customers at a Shell petrol station close to the Johor Baru checkpoint has also gone down by about 20 per cent over the last two days, said its cashier Aisya Aishah, 28.

"About 90 per cent of our customers are from Singapore. A lot of them will come every week to pump petrol," she said, adding that she hopes they will return once they get used to the higher tolls.

Singaporeans who made the trip yesterday said it was still "worth it" for now, because of the savings from cheaper food, groceries and petrol.

"I come about once a week to fill my tank and do my marketing," said 49-year-old chauffeur Mohamad Ali Yusoff.

"I can save about $30 to $40 on petrol alone."

Mr William also heads to Johor for his groceries once a fortnight.

"It's just a lot cheaper here. A tin of milk powder for my kids can be half the price of one back home," said the father of two.

"Even with the toll increase, we still save."

But with charges set to increase once LTA completes its move, and again after Malaysia introduces the vehicle entry fee, Mr William said he may have to think twice then about making a trip across the Causeway.

"We might come less frequently or just stop coming completely if it gets too expensive."

For those who commute regularly, the financial pinch would be even more painful.

Said businessman Patrick Chan, who drives from Singapore to Johor up to four times a week for work:

"I'm worried about the RM50 - that is significant, about $80 more for me to pay each week."

The 45-year-old added: "It will hurt those like me pretty badly."

Malaysia announced its proposal for a vehicle entry fee after Singapore decided to increase its permit fees for foreign-registered cars entering this country. S

tarting this month, Malaysia-registered cars have to pay $35 for a daily permit, up from $20.

Drivers of goods vehicles, who used to pay $10 for a monthly permit, now have to fork out $40.

These fees are separate from the toll charges, which have caused plenty of unhappiness among Malaysian commercial drivers.

Said Mrs Maggie Hui, the 56-year-old owner of Malaysian school bus service JK Megamaju:

"If we have to pay more, we have to pass costs to the parents."

The Johor Lorry Operators Association made a U-turn yesterday after its vice-president, Mr Andrew Chia, first told Channel NewsAsia that if the Malaysian government did not reduce the fares, lorry drivers might stage their own protest this week.

The association's president, Mr Anthony Tan, later told the same news outlet that Mr Chia had no authority to say this and that there will be no strike as

"we do not want to create trouble or havoc for other people".

Instead, the association will "go through the proper channels" to air any dissatisfaction.

A spokesman for the Johor-Singapore Community Care Association also told The Sunday Times that the new toll charges are "unreasonably high".

The association was started by a group of Singaporeans living in Johor to assist those who live and work there.

He said : "(We) would like to see an amicable solution that would not be a financial burden for citizens of both states, as they commute daily, be it to make a living, to conduct business or for leisure." ------ KatoeyNewsNetwork