According to a report in The Straits Times, those travelling to Johor via the two land checkpoints will have to tap their stored-value Touch n’ Go cards twice after getting their passports stamped, once for the road charge and again for the checkpoint toll.
There are two separate payment terminals at each counter for both charges, with signs indicating what each terminal is for, according to the report.
The fee is on top of existing checkpoint tolls levied by both countries, which currently amount to about S$13 for a round trip for a Singapore car going into Johor.
Government and commercial vehicles, including those for public transportation, will be exempted from the levy.
The launch of the road charge has been repeatedly delayed, and was targeted to roll out as early as October last year.
The Straits Times report said motorists did not appear to be confused or surprised by the implementation of the new charge.
It quoted technical officer Kamsan Amin, 58, who travels to Malaysia every week from his Woodlands home to buy groceries, as saying it was still cheaper on the whole.
Saying he had been coming to Malaysia for about 20 years, he added: “I don’t think I will stop just because of the extra charge.” Kamsan spends about RM100 on groceries each trip.
Another motorist, Iskandar Samat, 42, was quoted by the Straits Times as saying the RM20 was a “comfortable rate” and that it was nice to take a day trip to Johor Bharu as a family now and then.
However, technician Jani Jamari, 57, is having second thoughts about making the trip across the Causeway. He said: “I come in about once a month on my off day to eat because the halal food is cheap and good. Now, I think it’s not worth it to spend about SD19 on the toll and road charges here and back. I may take a ferry to Batam on my off day instead.”
Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai had said the RM20 road charge would also be collected at Malaysia’s borders with Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.
Malaysia also has plans to implement a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirement at the two land checkpoints with Singapore. The VEP scheme requires Singapore cars to register with Malaysia’s Road Transport Department before entering, according to the ST report.