$20rm entery into malaysia starts.
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OHOR BARU: Special gantries and electronic payment equipment have been installed at both the Causeway and Second Link to collect the RM20 levy on Singaporean vehicles entering Malaysia beginning next month.
A senior Immigration officer in Putrajaya told the New Straits Times that the gantries and stored-value card readers using the same principle as the Touch Â’n Go cards have been installed to make it easier for Singaporean motorists.
Checks by the NST at both entry points yesterday revealed trial runs for the equipment had been conducted over the past few days.
Customs and Immigration officers at both entry points have also begun verbally notifying Singaporean motorists of the move.
"We have installed the equipment but the exact date the levy will come into force has not been decided yet. The Transport Ministry will announce it soon," said the senior Immigration officer.
However, a Singaporean motorist who contacted the NST office here said Customs officers at the Second Link had told her the levy would be charged beginning Thursday.
"I was taken aback because there has been no announcement. This is going to affect regular travellers to Malaysia, like myself," she said.
Singapore currently imposes a S$20 (about RM46) entry permit fee on Malaysian cars and S$4 (RM9) fee on motorcycles entering the republic from 2am to 5pm on weekdays. No fees are levied on weekends and public holidays.
The levy proposal was first mooted by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry last April to defray fuel subsidies lost to foreign vehicles.
The proposal has seen some reservations from various quarters, especially retailers, who believe that Singaporeans may be put off from coming to Malaysia.
State executive councillor Freddy Long, who heads the tourism portfolio, said he feared the levy would affect the tourism industry in Johor.
Singaporeans spend an average of RM5 million a day on food, shopping and entertainment in Johor. Most hoteliers, retailers and restaurant operators are heavily dependent on their patronage.
In Singapore, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the levy was inconsequential compared to the fuel subsidies and other benefits Singaporeans enjoyed in Malaysia.
He said the levy would not deter Singaporeans from entering the country. -
boycott malaysia
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if it will deter those cheapskates...and protect them...
then they should even increase it to 100rm. -
YAY! DOMESTIC SPENDING IN THE COUNTRY WILL GO UP!!!
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its usually those cheapskates' sales dat adds up to large amount.Originally posted by missqi:if it will deter those cheapskates...and protect them...
then they should even increase it to 100rm. -
the minister commented that 20 ringitt is a small sum to Singaporean and that we will get used to it after awhile. seems he had learned from our Minister that Singaporean have got short memories
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TS ur JOHOR spell wrong OHOR lol
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Tot some malaysian ministress say no charge,why now got
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How come suddenly last minute then say? Now I got to find ways to reduce my trips to muar. The report above failed to mention malaysian registered vehicles enjoy entering singapore free for up to 10 weekdays.
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can pay cash ringgit or not? i wipe my ass with it, spit on it, then pass it to the immigration officer, can?
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I have reason to believe the news article on this thread is outdated, no source, no dates, nothing at all.
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Malaysia need more money to buy Luxury stuffs for thier VVIPs. Rakyat boh lui.. now its ENTRY FEE 20 RINGGIT!
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I can't find the threadstarter's news article but here are a few others regarding this matter:Originally posted by ditzy:I have reason to believe the news article on this thread is outdated, no source, no dates, nothing at all.
RE: http://travel.asiaone.com.sg/news/20070130_001.html
Levy on foreign cars will not turn away S'poreans: M'sian Tourism Minister
By Adrian Lim - Jan 30, 2007
AsiaOne
He says decision to impose the RM20 levy is still under review
Malaysia's plan to impose a RM20 levy on incoming foreign cars is still under review but its Minister of Tourism is confident that it will not adversely discourage Singaporeans from driving across to Johor.
Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor would not say when the levy would be implemented, stating that the issue is only a matter of Singaporeans "getting used to it".
"You got nowhere else to go. We got good roads, beautiful sights", he told reporters at a media briefing yesterday in conjunction with the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2007.
The levy, which is meant to defray the fuel subsidies that have kept Malaysian pump prices among the lowest in the region, was to have come into effect on Sept 1 last year but Malaysian ministers have been sending mixed signals on whether to impose it or not.
At the briefing yesterday, Tengku Adnan also fielded questions on the crime situation in Malaysia and the impact of the recent Johor floods.
Singaporean visitors accounted for some 7.9 million of the total 14.4 million tourists to Malaysia from January to October last year. Tengku Adnan said he does not expect a fall in the number of Singaporeans even if the levy on foreign cars was imposed.
He said that Singaporeans would continue to go to Malaysia where they could buy groceries from the markets and supermarkets at heavily subsidised prices by the Malaysian government for its own people.
On the other hand, he said that Malaysians coming to Singapore have to pay a much higher car levy of "S$20 x 2.3."
"But we don't grumble and you got less roads than us," he added.
He explained that no decison had been reached on the levy as it is still pending the Attorney-General's approval, and they have yet to resolve who would collect it - whether it is the immigration, toll operators or customs.
Turning to the spate of crimes committed against Singaporeans in Johor and other parts of Malaysia, Tengku Adnan said that given the 20 million trips made by Singaporeans into Malaysia yearly, the crime rate of 0.005 per cent was not high and has in fact been falling in the country.
"I'm not saying it's good," he said, stressing that Malaysia would take action to further cut the crime rate to attract more tourists.
For example, he said police bases were being beefed up, more tourist information centres would be set up, and more security equipment and devices, including surveillance cameras would be installed.
A Lianhe Zaobao report today, quoting Johor police, said that out of the 29,079 crime incidents reported in 2006, 386 involved Singaporean victims, who were either robbed, had their cars stolen or whose homes in Johor were broken into.
Giving an update on the flood situation, he said that all areas in Johor are now accessible, except for some roads in Batu Pahat which are still being blocked by landslides.
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RE: http://news.asiaone.com/bt/bto_20070130_222819.htmlOriginally from The Business Times:
Speaking in Singapore at the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, Mr Tengku Adnan said that the recent floods in Malaysia should not deter tourists, as the roads going up to popular destinations such as Genting and Kuala Lumpur were not affected.
He said hotels in Johor had been occupied 'to their brim' during the recent flooding.He said that despite the proposal for a RM20 levy on cars visiting Malaysia, the target of 10 million Singaporean tourists in 2007 was 'achievable, according to Singapore travel trends'. -
I just re-read the threadstarter's post and there IS a source. it says "New Straits Times".Originally posted by ditzy:I have reason to believe the news article on this thread is outdated, no source, no dates, nothing at all.
I just checked the new straits times website and I've found the TS's article.
RE: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Tuesday/National/20070130084104/Article/local1_html
Singapore motorists just have to ‘touch’ to enter
30 Jan 2007
Lau Mei San, Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi and Kamachy Habimanan
JOHOR BARU: Special gantries and electronic payment equipment have been installed at both the Causeway and Second Link to collect the RM20 levy on Singaporean vehicles entering Malaysia beginning next month.
A senior Immigration officer in Putrajaya told the New Straits Times that the gantries and stored-value card readers using the same principle as the Touch Â’n Go cards have been installed to make it easier for Singaporean motorists.
Checks by the NST at both entry points yesterday revealed trial runs for the equipment had been conducted over the past few days.
... ...
In Singapore, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the levy was inconsequential compared to the fuel subsidies and other benefits Singaporeans enjoyed in Malaysia.
... ...
Refer to link or TS for full article. -
Another article regarding this matter on May 2006 at jbtown.com
RE: http://jbtown.com/content/view/55/
Refer to URL above for full article. Website also contains Guide to JB, Food in JB, etc. -
This news article was posted in august 2006.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/economicnews/view/227428/1/.html
Malaysia may reveal details of South Johor Economic Region on Friday
By Wong Choon Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 August 2006 1902 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
Malaysia's Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz
SINGAPORE : Malaysia may reveal preliminary details about its plans for a huge, special economic zone in southern Johor this Friday when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi presents the national budget.
That is according to Minister for International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz, who is in Singapore on a business visit.
She also adds that the recent proposal to levy a RM20 tax on foreign cars entering Johor has been scrapped.
Earlier this year, Malaysia announced plans to build a special zone in south Johor as part of efforts to transform the state into an economic hub.
As much as RM15 billion worth of developments may be earmarked to develop the South Johor Economic Region.
But the Malaysian trade minister says the government is committed to making Johor a special area, one that is capable of competing with regional leaders such as Singapore.
"The Malaysian government is committed towards promoting Johor as an economic hub. With the announcement of the South Johor Economic region, which encompass the districts of Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang and Kulai as well as Jeram Batu, Sungai Karang and Serkat, we will see contiguous to Singapore a new hub," says Malaysia's Minister for International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz.
The special zone is expected to cover a 2,217 square kilometre area, and Malaysia is widely expected to announce a raft of incentives to get foreign firms to come on board.
And businesses in Singapore have been urged to explore the new opportunities it offers.
"We are looking forward to the details of the South Johor Economic Region plans being released. When that is released, of course, we'll study it in detail and like what Minister Rafidah said, Malaysia wants to publicise it and Singapore companies will see how we can fit the plans of the two countries working together," says Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang.
"This is natural because of the proximity, the lower land cost and lower wage cost. Johor's economy complements very well with Singapore's economy," he added.
Minister Rafidah says the much-awaited details of the special zone could be announced this Friday.
"I think in the budget it might come out. Wait for (another) three days," says the Malaysian trade minister.
She also adds that plans to introduce a RM20 levy on foreign cars entering Johor, with effect from September 1, has been scrapped.
"Johor says 'tak ada', otherwise there will be an announcement," said Minister Rafidah.
Singapore investments in Malaysia totalled RM2.9 billion last year - up by more than 50% - with more than half going to Johor state.
- CNA /ls -
On Malaysian Newspaper "The Star"'s forum:
RE: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/9/focus/13877457&sec=focus
Sunday April 9, 2006
Yes, we should proceed with levy
SINCE when did we become so kiasu? What is all the fuss about the proposed RM20 levy on Singapore vehicles travelling in to Malaysia?
For years, Malaysians have been forking out S$30 per day when driving into Singapore.
The money we collect from foreign cars entering our country can be spent on new projects or improving Johor BaruÂ’s road system.
We have been paying through our pockets for so many years to subsidise Singapore vehicles. Is it fair to us? How long more do we have to do that?
Despite the proposed levy, JBÂ’s economy will not suffer because Singaporeans will still come as our goods and services are much cheaper.
K.E. TEH
Rawang, Selangor -
well too bad la.. cause the 30th jan article by new straits times says otherwise. on top of that, the touch and go scanners have been installed and are on trial run now.. (as u can see in the photo in the article above above above), i think they are very much serious about implementing it since they have put the hardware inOriginally posted by ditzy:This news article was posted in august 2006.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/economicnews/view/227428/1/.html
Malaysia may reveal details of South Johor Economic Region on Friday
By Wong Choon Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 August 2006 1902 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
Malaysia's Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz
SINGAPORE : Malaysia may reveal preliminary details about its plans for a huge, special economic zone in southern Johor this Friday when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi presents the national budget.
... ...
Singapore investments in Malaysia totalled RM2.9 billion last year - up by more than 50% - with more than half going to Johor state.
- CNA /ls -
diam la..Originally posted by Chelzea:boycott malaysia -
they charge 20 RM for us singaporeans to get a 75% of getting robbed and murdered
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and u all gt see the newspaper yesterday...the malay guy dun noe who la..he laugh and say....u all will get used to it...wah l see liao...even l no drive car...oso feel very dulan lor...what get used to it...pay $ still will get use ah
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buay song arOriginally posted by tt3:diam la.. -
That doesn't affect me.... because I have no car... Haha
(I always take bus to enter Malaysia. Even if I have a car in the future, I also won't drive it into Malaysia. So many fees... Then the Malaysian police and robbers always target Singapore cars....) -
hannor, I buay song. You come padang now meet me 8pm.Originally posted by Chelzea:buay song ar