Oppositions complained over announced "toll rate" for EDL but it is free for use to Johoreans and help reduced traffic jam in Johor Baru.
For PKR and DAP politicians to oppose the VEP or new toll rates at the CIQ, it shows ignorance in governance and an irresponsible politicking that does not serve the interest of the nation.
The English idiomatic proverb, "You can't have the cake and eat it too" means one cannot or should not have or want more than one deserves or can handle, or that one cannot or should not try to have two incompatible things.
The proverb's meaning is similar to the phrases "you can't have it both ways" and "you can't have the best of both worlds." Conversely, in the positive sense, it refers to "having it both ways" or "having the best of both worlds."
The Malaysians or Singaporeans working in Singapore, earning Singapore income and pay Singapore tax, yet living in cheaper Johor Baru but using Singapore registered vehicles cannot have it both ways.
They can't have the cake and eat it too. So pay up.
VEP
In the previous posting, Singapore could tac, but Johor not allowed to tic, this blog complained that Singapore is raising the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) but MCA President seemed reluctant to collaborate to do a tic-for-tac.
Johor Pemuda UMNO called for a VEP of RM100 for Singapore-registered cars upon entry. It is almost equal to the Singapore charges of S$35 on Malaysian registered cars. While the relevant Johor exco member mentioned the VEP proposed charge as S$20.
In his blog here, UMNO State Assemblymen for Kempas, Tengku Dato Putera felt it is only fair to do so. He wrote, "Singaporeans cannot drive Malaysian cars in Singapore and will be slapped with a hefty fine, we allow Malaysians to drive Singapore registered vehicles on Malaysian roads if it eases their purpose."
DAP Assemblymen for Senai, Shu Qi expressed reservation to the planned VEP on Singaporean registered car by citing the loss of business to Johor Baru retailers as reason.
This blog argued here that it is not quite relevant and beneficial to the government. Doubtful that it will significantly affect Singaporean vehicles or tourist coming to Johor. Not with the cheaper goods, petrol, hotel etc, added on furthermore by cheaper Ringgit Malaysia.
In a previous statement for a group of state assemblymen on July 9th [as reported by The Star here], Shu Qi expressed her reservation by seeking the revenue from VEP charged on Singaporean registered vehicles be channeled to improve the public transportation system in Johor Baru.
Address congestion
Shu Qi failed to remember that government had a plan to address the traffic jam and congestion at the causeway from spreading clogging up the whole of Johor Baru.
There was supposed to be a new scenic bridge planned to replace the causeway and that bridge would be connected to the CIQ and a highway that would disperse inbound traffic from Singapore and direct traffic to Singapore without causing congestion to the Johor Baru central business district.
The CIQ was planned as a node for a multi-modal transport system for road, buses and train that would help solved all the issues raised by Shu Qi. The problems faced by the congestion by both Malaysia and Singapore could also be solved.
Since Singapore did not cooperate to demolish the causeway, the plan was only for the Malaysian side to do a scenic bridge. Singapore not only refused to cooperate but sabotaged by scaring off a former sleepy Prime Minister to cancel construction.
Sleepy cancelled the bridge after the CIQ was completely constructed and the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) is already under construction.
Life has to go on for EDL. It was already completed four years ago, opened to the public for use but face resistance to charge toll.
Initially, Dato Najib said no toll was going to be charged and government was to takeover the elevated highway but considering the large subsidy bill to maintain, it is fair for them to decide to revert back to the original plan to charge toll.
EDL "toll"
Federal Government announced the long overdue new "toll rate" to be charged at the CIQ with effect from August 1st, below:
Read it here in The Star.
Upon the announcement, it is PKR and The Malaysian Insider that is screaming now. Why should they? After all, the outbound fare of RM6.80 and inbound fare of RM 9.70 is similar with the second crossing of outbound and inbound fares of RM7.50.
Blogger Jebat Must Die here highlighted few important facts. The EDL highway is free for Johoreans to use within Johor Baru to avoid traffic jam but charged to vehicles it is meant for, which is vehicles using the CIQ to go to or coming from Singapore.
He highlighted that 60,000 vehicle used the EDL out of which 80% are Singapore registered vehicles. It means government had to come up with RM1.1 billion (via privatisation to MRCB) to build a dedicated highway to address traffic congestion problems related with these Singaporean cars.
Whether the vehicles are owned by Singaporean or Malaysians, they are most likely employed in Singapore, get paid in Singapore dollar, and pay taxes to the Singaporean government, while Malaysia is providing the accommodation, cheaper lifestyle and transportation infrastructure.
Why should Malaysia be saddled with the problems of vehicles of Singapore employees and the burden to provide better public transportation system as requested by Shu Qi for the economic benefit to Singapore?
If Singapore wants Malaysians to work in Singapore and not willing to pay them on expatriate terms, the least the Singapore based companies could do is to provide for their housing, transportation and other basic necessities in Singapore.
Insensible PKR
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| Najib only promised Johoreans in Johor will not be burdened |
PKR politicians, Steven Choong and Jimmy Puah are opposing the toll by drumming up support from Malaysian owning the Singaporean registered cars plying the causeway and using the facilities built by the Malaysian government.
These are kiasu Malaysians coming from all over Malaysia who wants the best of both world; Singapore salary but cheaper cost of living in Johor Baru. They want to earn more money from the higher exchange rate, enjoy cheaper goods in Johor but pay tax to Singapore.
By opposing the toll rate, PKR politicians are demanding that these Malaysian should enjoy free infrastructure and access to Malaysian roads and highway for the comfort of having a private transportation which in Singapore, they have to pay up their nose to afford such comfort.
Come on. If they are concern about cost, car pool and use public transport to help their Singapore government paymaster reduce congestion in Singapore.
Essentially, these PKR politicians are saying government should subsidise their comfortable lifestyle without any benefit for the government and the remaining rakyat. in Johor Baru bear the inconvenience.
Yet PKR took issue to accuse BN governments for over spending, high borrowing, highlighted contingent liabilities and questioned subsidies like BR1M.
To earn political brownie points from Malaysians earning a living in PAP Singapore but voting in Johor Baru voting districts, it is not alright for PKR and DAP to be inconsistent.
Considerate neighbours
Choong and Puah argued that road users must have the rights to other non-toll alternatives. That is ludicrous. No such alternative route will ever be available when it comes to crossing the borders. Singapore practise the same but PKR raised no issue against Singapore.
They claim it is not timely due to softening property market may actually turn soft. Perhaps at it's worst, migration out of Johor Baru could occur. Frankly, it is a much needed relief for Johoreans. Hopefully the skewed demography of non-Johoreans will be corrected.
Singapore is also guilty of increasing financial inconvenience of these daily commuters to Singapore. Blame it also on them.
The immediate effect to Singapore will be a massive labour and skill shortage which would also soften their economy. Furthermore, it is not easy for Singapore to replace Malaysians with other nationalities.
When Singapore decide to sabotage our scenic bridge plan, raised VEP, or an upcoming toll increase, they never considered the implication to our side or bother to discuss. Neighbors are supposed to be concerned with each other but they are only concerned with their own.
It is high time Malaysia make them understand that whatever affects their neighbor will affect them too. It is time they absorb the cost of having Malaysians working in Singapore and not just lump it on Malaysia.
In the meanwhile, somebody has to pay for all that the Malaysian government has spent on but rakyat not getting the economic benefit. Definitely not the Johoreans in Johor.
Those highly paid for working in Singapore could certainly afford to sacrifice a few more Singapore dollars for Malaysia.