DAP's Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong has queried if the 470 percent toll hike at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, which is the gateway to Singapore, had racial motives.
He was responding to an opinion piece by BN's Pulai MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed who said the hike had unexpectedly turned into a racial issue.
Nur Jazlan had written, "The toll hike at the Johor Causeway and the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) has unexpectedly turned into a racial issue as it is seen that the Chinese community is more affected as more of them work in Singapore compared to other races compared to Malays.
"As an MP for all races, I am of the opinion the government's decision to increase the toll without consultation with stakeholders including myself as an MP does not portray the concept of 'people first'," wrote Nur Jazlan in an Aug 4 piece in an online news site.
Liew in a statement yesterday said, "In other words, Nur Jazlan is accusing that the federal and Johor governments' decision to increase the CIQ toll is made with racial thought and consideration.
"(It) also exposed that no consultation was made with BN representatives, even from Umno, before the decision was made."
Najib must clarify
Liew said the allegation was serious and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as well as Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin needed to clarify the matter.
He added both leaders have yet to justify the drastic hike and it was their responsibility to break their silence over the matter.
On July 26, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) announced the outbound toll charge at the CIQ for cars would be RM6.80 and inbound would be RM9.70, making a round trip cost RM16.50.
In contrast, inbound cars were previously only charged RM2.90 while there was no outbound charge. The new rate was effective beginning this month. -M'kini
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