Malaysia has reduced the Goods Vehicle Levy (GVL) charge at the Second Link from RM200 (S$68) to RM50 (S$17), according to a report on Friday, Feb 2, 2018. The decision was part of efforts to reduce the congestion at the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
Singapore "welcomes the decision" and will be monitoring the impact of the move, Singapore's Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a Facebook post on Sunday, Feb 4.
The GVL is a Malaysian customs charge – not a toll – that is applied to all goods vehicles, regardless of nationality. There is no such equivalent at Singapore’s end.
“We hope the significant reduction of the levy rate for commercial vehicles will make the Second Link the primary route for heavy vehicle operators entering Singapore,” Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister Abd Aziz Kaprawi said.
"We will monitor the impact of this move. Meanwhile, our officials continue to engage on how to amend current tolls, with a view to ease the Causeway jam," said Khaw.