BENTONG: The RM20 road charge, currently enforced at the Johor-Singapore crossing point, will also be imposed at the border with Thailand, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The move is expected to be implemented this year following Cabinet approval.

“We are also in detailed discussions with the Finance Ministry, as we have four states bordering Thailand, and we will have to pass RM5 from every RM20 we collect to the states,” said Liow.

Malaysia has nine border crossings into Thailand’s southern pro­vinces.

However, compared to between 10,000 and 20,000 cars entering from Singapore on a daily basis, there are about 1,000 cars entering Malaysia daily from Thailand, said Liow after the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) 71st anniversary national celebration at Dataran Bentong yesterday.

He said the JPJ had conducted 76 inspections on tyre factories from Jan 1 to April 28, and illegally retreaded tyres and equipment worth RM210,000 had been seized.

Freedom to soar: Liow releasing a pigeon at JPJ’s 71st anniversary celebration at Dataran Bentong. The event is also to foster cooperation between JPJ and the public in working towards reducing road accidents

The inspections and seizures were conducted together with the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) as part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy.

Operators from four factories have been brought to court, while others have been issued on-the-spot fines.

Liow said JPJ’s revenue increased by 6% to RM3.8bil last year compared to 2015.

The top three JPJ which recorded the highest revenue last year were Federal Territory, Johor and Selangor, he added.

JPJ director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron said the department was determined to lower the accident rate on the roads.

“Year after year, our accident rate is rising. This cannot be handled by one department alone.

“Therefore, we follow the National Blue Ocean Strategy and work together with the police, KPDNKK and other government bodies, and schools to increase safety awareness,” said Nadzri.

He added that other safety measures included using technology such as installing more cameras at additional locations to improve traffic monitoring and integrating them with other systems such as the AWAS demerit system.

-Bernama-