Effective January 1, 2023, passengers travelling from Johor Bahru to Singapore will incur an additional RM1 charge at Larkin Sentral.
Passengers using bus services that cross the Causeway, such as bus service 170, Causeway Link CWL, and Singapore-Johore Express (SJE), will be charged an additional RM1 (S$0.30) starting January 1, 2023. This new fee was announced on December 27, but Larkin Sentral has not publicly addressed the change on social media.
The facility charge is specifically for Singapore-bound travellers, and a ticket gate has been installed to manage the fee. Passengers can pay using QR code passes via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, but they should expect significant queues at the terminal, according to transport blog RailTravel Station.
Local politician Koo Shiaw Lee has criticised the charge, arguing that it is unfair to impose it only on cross-border travellers. He pointed out that the terminal serves domestic routes as well and that the facilities have not been improved to justify the additional cost. Koo also expressed concern over the current cost of living, calling the fee unreasonable.
Amid growing complaints, some Malaysian social media users have called for Transport Minister Anthony Loke to inspect Larkin Sentral, hoping for improvements similar to those seen at Kuala Lumpur’s light rapid transit (LRT) system after Loke’s recent visit.
