Bus drivers strike, severe traffic in Causeway

Malaysian buses ferrying factory workers into Singapore staged a strike early Friday morning at the Johor checkpoint to protest new toll charges imposed by the Malaysian government. The strike was launched due to the increase of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) charges which went into effect today and may affect both countries, reports Channel News Asia. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) sent an advisory at 8.05am stating that bus services 160, 170, 170X and 950 have halted services to Johor Bahru until further notice. The suspension was due to a “protest against increase in Malaysian toll fees by Malaysian bus operators which impeded flow of bus traffic through the Johor Bahru Checkpoint,” the advisory stated. At about 9.40am, however, LTA reported that half of the 160, 170, 170X buses had resumed operations while the 950 buses were fully operating. Singapore Media agency, MediaCorp Hotline had reported to have received at least five calls on the matter this morning. One caller said many Malaysian-registrated buses carrying factory workers refused to continue their journey to Singapore at the Woodlands. Factory workers had to disembark at the Malaysian CIQ Complex and walk into Singapore to catch another bus to their workplace. Another caller said traffic at the CIQ Complex affected students who were on their way to schools in Singapore. Most of them arrived late at school this morning, he said. Singapore announced an increase in VEP charges of RM51.40 to RM90 daily. The Malaysian Highway Authority had, last week, announced new toll charges for vehicles heading to Singapore as RM9.70, RM14.70, RM19.70, RM4.80 and RM7.80. For vehicles leaving Singapore, the new charges are RM6.80, RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 and RM5.50 for Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles, respectively. Only motorcyclists are exempted from paying toll.