As the clock struck midnight last night, a flurry of cars and motorbikes were seen making their way across both the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Tuas Second Link that connects both Singapore and Malaysia after both nations officially reopen their borders to one another. This marks the very first time in over 2 years that privately owned vehicles have been able to travel across borders, after travellers no longer need to apply for any allocations via the now-scrapped Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme.
M’sian travellers to enjoy toll exemption for 7-days
And in line with that, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yakob had also earlier announced that Malaysians who are looking to travel across the Johor-Singapore border in the next 7 days starting from today (1st April 2022). According to The Edge Markets, this toll exemption will apply across all private vehicles that will be travelling through toll plazas located at the Second Link Expressway or the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building.
“The move is in line with the approach to facilitate cross-border movement with Singapore. This exemption is for Malaysians and consumers to top up or renew their Touch ‘n Go and Smart Tag,”
“The granting of this toll exemption involves to and fro travels through the two toll plazas involved during the period,” he said in a statement released on Wednesday (30th March 2022).
As many as 42,000 vehicles expected to enter M’sia daily
He adds that the decision had been made while taking into consideration of the fact that borders between both nations have been closed throughout the duration of the pandemic, with the government intent on ensuring smooth traffic at both border entrances upon their reopening.
Quoting local highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia Berhad, the Prime Minister says that as many as over 42,000 vehicles are expected to travel into Malaysia daily via both the Johor Causeway and the Second Link Expressway,
“The toll exemption will benefit more than 300,000 Malaysia-Singapore cross-border trips for vehicle owners,”
Added preparations have also been made by PLUS in collaboration with the relevant ministries and agencies in Johor to ensure that public facilities located at toll plazas and rest and service (R&R) areas are ready for use by today. Separately, it has also been reported by Malay Mail, Johor state police will also be stationing as many as over 1,600 men throughout the first week of the border reopening to ensure safety throughout 41 focus areas in the state.
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