Part of VEP fees to be used to improve public transportation

Datuk Hasni Mohammad

JOHOR BARU: The state government will use its share of the proposed vehicle entry permit (VEP) fees to improve public transportation in the state.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the money collected would be channelled to improve the bus transportation system.

“We are also looking at improving traffic flow, especially on the major roads, such as Jalan Tebrau, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and Jalan Skudai, which are congested during peak hours,” he said. The state is expected to get 25% or RM5 from the RM20 that will be imposed on foreign vehicles entering Malaysia through the Causeway here and the Second Link Expressway in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah, from Aug 1.

Asked for the four-month delay in implementing it, Hasni said there were certain issues which needed to be ironed out, including tabling a proposal in Parliament because it involved border crossings.

Besides Singapore, Malaysia also has border crossings with Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia. He said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the state had requested RM7.674bil from the Federal Government for infrastructure and rural development.

Under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2014), Johor received RM8.5bil.

Hasni said the bulk of the allocation totalling RM3.06bil under the 11MP would go towards 10 major road projects.

They include the Gemas-Ayer Hitam road, the Pasir Gudang Highway (third phase), the Muar-Tangkak-Segamat road (fifth package) and the Batu Pahat-Ayer Hitam road.

He said the state was also looking at ways to improve east-west connectivity, especially with a better road system.

On public transportation, Hasni said RM2.8bil had been requested, including RM1.3bil for Rapid Transit Bus projects in Iskandar Malaysia.

“Part of the allocation will be used to develop a transport hubs in Kempas, Muar, Batu Pahat and Nusajaya,” he said.