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SEPTEMBER 8 — The announcement and an immediate denial of Singapore’s Causeway toll increase by the island-state Land Transport Authority (LTA) has given a glimpse of an immature reaction that is expected to bite them back. In a press release dated 5 September, LTA announced a slew of toll increase on their side of the Causeway to match the new toll announced by their Malaysian counterpart which was implemented on 1 August. The increased toll rates by LTA were supposed to take effect on 15 September, until another statement reached the desk of media editors almost immediately denying that LTA has raised the toll rates. The statement and then retraction by LTA, made the notorious bureaucratic and sloppy Malaysian government agencies look as efficient as NASA (US Aerospace Agency). What the heck, it also made the PKR statement and retraction, announcement and then denial on their selection of Selangor Mentri Besar, acceptable by ‘industrial’ standard. This pulled back statement of intent by Singapore, has shown a government that will go the extra length to show that they need to be one-over their neighbour. Urban Malaysians do not buy the extreme rhetoric of right-wing leaders that will almost instantaneously ‘jump and cry like monkeys’ on every action by Singapore that has an effect towards Malaysia. However, the more rational Malaysian and also Singaporean public cannot fathom the short-sightedness of the Singaporean government on this issue. The Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) implemented the toll on their side of the Causeway to cover the cost of building a highway that connects the Causeway to the North-South Highway. On the other hand, what are the reasons for Singapore to increase their toll now? Absolutely no justification except to match their neighbour’s action. This immature intent-action reflect a shallow mentality that is lodged in the minds of the Singaporean leaders and yet they call themselves than their counterparts .in Malaysia. Singapore has just increased the VEP (vehicle entry permit) rates from S$20 to S$35 (RM50 TO RM88) on 1 August, so the intent to increase the Causeway toll so soon after the VEP raise is totally unnecessary. The tit-for-tat action by Singapore will also hurt their own companies and corporations that employ thousand of Malaysians mainly in low-paying jobs. These blue-collared workers travel from Johor mainly by factory or public buses that will eventually transfer the cost of the toll increase to the migrant workers themselves. The Singaporean employers, in their effort to retain manpower in their companies will have to fork out extras to cover the toll increase. The expected on-again off-again toll increase by the LTA will eventually hurt their own companies/corporations as well as Singaporean individuals that amount to 80% that crosses the Causeway on a daily basis. Singapore ought to reconsider their immature and childish tit-for-tat action as they are bound to lose in the long run. Unlike the Malaysian side which require the toll to cover the building of a highway, Singapore has very little reason or excuse to increase the toll rates on their side. At least one thing is certain, we can definitely expect some heads in LTA to roll due to the on-off toll increase fiasco. Singapore, think before you jump. * This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/singapore-tit-for-tat-will-bite-them-back#sthash.ouFGJdlu.dpuf