I HAVE noticed that there is an increasing number of Singapore permanent residents (PRs) living in neighbouring Johor and driving into Singapore.

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I disagree with Mr. Wong's proposal.

A few objections: Firstly, the actual number of PRs living in Johor is unknown or at least not provided by Mr. Wong, at least an estimate is required to see what the impact actually is. Secondly, subsidized petrol from Malaysia is not paid for by the Singapore gahmen.

Thirdly, PRs that work in Singapore contribute to the economy of Singapore, extending the labor pool and hence economic critical mass.

If you drive a car, you automatically contribute to any traffic jam. I think this fellow just sour grapes because he pays too much for petrol.

Singapore-registered cars means they also have to pay COE right? So what's the complain here?

Also, the physical car has nothing to do with one's PR-status. Malaysian registered cars and singapore cars driven by singapore citizens also contribute to the jam - so what's the relevance of Kevin Wong's complain about PRs.

I do not follow the writer's logic at all.

Don't understand how this letter get published. After paying the causway tolls etc all cars must pay the necessary ERP, how can those cars enjoy more privileges other than cheaper petrol. Anyway, they must be Malaysians and not other nationalities to pay lower petrol prices, and this has been going on like for aeons.

Domi, the Malaysians and other nationalities driving Singapore registered cars do not pay any toll charges when driving into Singapore.

How about banning all cars? Mr Wong is a typical kiasu Singaporean

Just a correction Domi, Singapore registered cars driven by PRs do not pay toll charges if they go through Woodlands checkpoint. But if through Tuas, need to pay.

However I think the writer's point is not whether toll is being paid at the checkpoints, or whether petrol is cheaper at the Malaysian side. His point is that cars driven by PRs living in Johor do contribute to the jams in Singapore, and there is a "loophole" in that PR drivers of Singapore registered vehicles do not pay as much as Malaysian registered vehicles. I have malaysian friends telling me "Live cheaply and enjoy in JB, but earn the SG $" Inevitable that this will raise eyebrows!

Therefore the government may need to relook into the ERP structure or toll charges for such drivers. Every country has it's way of recognising it's own citizens, and it should not be different in Singapore. Even Malaysia has different prices for it's own citizens as compared to foreigners, am I right?

Further, the argument that PRs contribute to the economy did not deter the SG govt from having separate $ charges at hospitals and public housing upgrading, for example, so why the difference in ERP?

Is there anything that stops a Singapore citizen from staying in Johor, buying food from stores over there, and driving a Singapore-registered car into Singapore? The citizen cannot use his or her CPF for the housing loan installments in Malaysia though, but neither can a permanent resident do so. What unfair advantage is the author referring to? The only thing that can be perceived as unfair is the citizen has to deposit about 70000 SGD in Malaysia, in order to get residential status. But this may not be a large amount to most citizens.

Hanweitoh I think if Malaysia decides to ban S'pore property and food purchases, then we S'poreans will move our $ elsewhere :) Simple rt?

But the topic is about fairness in ERP charges, and how to encourage more Singapore PRs to live in Sg instead of Johor. Maybe also how to ease the congestions at the land checkpoints which incurs SG tax payers money as well to employ more staff and infrastructure maintenance. I guess if PRs are unhappy about this then they should take up S'pore citizenship and contribute even more to our country!

Lovegordonramsey, Malaysian registered cars driven by Sg citizens contribute to the jams, of course! But they pay high toll charges at the checkpoints during peak hours. Something like SGD 20+ a day? See the point? To get around this, many M'sians who are S'pore PR and living in Johor buy S'pore registered cars. Afterall the COEs are at all-time lows.

I guess we wait for LTA to reveal the figures. Think we'd all be in for a big surprise!