Shortage of payment cards irks travellers at the causeway

What a bother: The huge demand for Touch ‘n Go cards has resulted in many places running out of supply in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

JOHOR BARU: Crossing the borders is getting to be a touch-and-go affair for Singaporeans – they don’t know how much extra they will have to pay.

Since the border reopened, Touch ’n Go cards are becoming hard to find and touts are now at the cashless toll plaza at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex here.

The drivers have had to pay up to RM50 to “certain people” to tap and pay for them when they enter Malaysia. Many are now asking for a universal mode of payment at the two border crossings with Singapore, including via debit and credit cards.

At the moment, besides using a Touch ‘n Go card, Singaporeans can use their EZ-Link x Touch ’n Go motoring card at the two land borders. This a cashless card which can be used in Singapore and Malaysia.

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However, this card is only sold at selected 7-Elevens or petrol stations in Singapore.

Singaporean businessman L. Manan, 64, was among those who had trouble paying for toll recently as his Touch ’n Go card had expired.

“The immigration officer directed me to a person near the toll area. When I approached the person to buy a new card, the person said they do not sell cards at the CIQ. But he was willing to ‘help’ with the toll for a fee,” he said.

The toll amount was about RM23 but he had to pay RM50 for the service. After leaving the CIQ, he drove around looking to buy a card but none were available.

Manan said he then had to get a card from his brother and has been using it to enter Johor weekly.

He said the problem could be avoided if people can buy the cards or make reloads at the CIQ.

Another Singaporean, who only wanted to be identified as Tan, said the family in the car ahead of him had asked to use his Touch ’n Go card as theirs had expired.

“With the border being reopened since April, there should be an adequate supply of such cards, especially around the CIQs.

“I also hope Touch ’n Go will allow for online top-ups, which are more convenient,” he said.

“The company should also have an office at both border crossings to sell cards and allow top-ups.”

Malaysian R. Mohana, a 43-year-old factory worker, said the shortage of cards had been a problem for weeks now.

“I found that my card had expired and asked my sister living in Johor Baru to help get a new one but she was unable to find a card,” said Mohana.

Malaysian engineer Nur Atiqah Muhd Fauzi, 27, who works in Singapore, also said he had been unable to buy a new Touch ’n Go card and was forced to use her identity card instead.

“I have been trying to get a card since May,” she said.

Checks by The Star at petrol stations and convenience stores around the Johor Baru CIQ and the Second Link showed that they had run out of Touch ‘n Go cards for some time now.

Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng said he had received many complaints on the issue.

“As all our CIQs are cashless, we should allow people to use their debit cards or even credit cards to pay.

“This type of cashless payment has already been implemented at shopping malls around the city,” he said, adding that this issue had been raised several years ago, when he headed a task force to look into traffic congestion at the Johor CIQ.

“We should have a universal payment system,” he said.

He also said the authorities should work towards integrating Singapore’s EZ-Link smartcard system to allow for seamless travel between both countries.

A Touch ‘n Go customer careline staffer, when contacted, said those wanting to purchase a card can do so via its website at www.touchngo.com.my/consumer/toll/card/buy-a-card/.