SINGAPORE: Malaysians may soon pay a flat RM5 (S$1.44) rate for each trip on the Shuttle Tebrau train service between Johor Bahru and Singapore’s Woodlands, according to Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke.
The proposed move has received praise from Malaysian netizens who welcome the cheaper fare, but others have criticised it as being unfair in subsidising train tickets for Malaysian workers in Singapore who earn more than their counterparts in Malaysia.
According to local media, Mr Loke said that the current fare for a one-way ticket from Johor Bahru to Woodlands is RM5, while a ticket for the return trip is S$5 or RM17.30.
He added that KTMB had proposed to eliminate the difference in fares. KTMB, Malaysia’s national train operator, operates the Shuttle Tebrau train service.
Mr Loke noted that there was no need for Malaysia to hold discussions with Singapore as KTMB is a Malaysian entity.
“I welcome the suggestion and will discuss the matter with (Malaysia’s) Land Public Transport Agency. We hope it can be done by early next year,” Mr Loke was quoted by local media as saying at a press conference on Sunday (Dec 10).
“Shuttle Tebrau is used by many; about 10,000 passengers are using the service daily.”
The move was welcomed by some netizens who noted that the reduced ticket price would be fairer for Malaysians.
A Singaporean netizen commented that he had wondered why Malaysians did not receive subsidised train fares. “17MYR is quite a lot for a one-way ticket,” he noted on Facebook.
Another user on social media platform X also said that “it will be easier to go on holiday in Singapore after this”.
Some have also praised the Malaysian government, saying the new proposed arrangement shows it really cared for their citizens.
However, others have criticised the move, with some pointing out that the reduced fare would be unfair as workers in Singapore earn a higher salary than those in Malaysia.
“(There should be) no need to subsidise for the Singapore dollar earners. Why use (the Malaysian public’s) money to subsidise for the group who can well afford it?” asked a user.
Meanwhile, others called for the shuttle service to be demolished once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins operations.
“The KTM shuttle must be demolished after train service between Singapore and Johor officially begins,” said a netizen.
Another user on Facebook commented: “(I) hope the Singapore government will also (reduce fares) for Singaporeans on the coming (train) line (from) Singapore to JB.”
Earlier in October, Malaysia announced that it would try to negotiate with Singapore to retain the Shuttle Tebrau train service even after the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link begins operations, which is expected to occur by end-2026.
On Oct 26, Mr Loke said that the termination of the shuttle service was one of the conditions agreed between Malaysia and Singapore in implementing the RTS project. He added then that “it is not wrong” to have more connectivity between the two countries.
Commenting on this, Mr Loke said on Sunday that there is still time for negotiations to maintain the shuttle service.
“There are still three years until the RTS Link is completed. We will focus on improving the service first,” he reportedly said.
Additional reporting by Rhea Yasmine Alis Haizan