The Government has announced a new toll rate at the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs & Immigration Quarantine (CIQ) Complex here, effective Aug 1.

Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh, in a statement, said the increase involved Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles entering and leaving the complex.

The new toll rate for cars coming into Malaysia are RM9.70; RM14.70; RM19.70, RM4.80 and RM7.80 for respective classes, while the toll rates for cars going outbound are RM6.80; RM10.20; RM13.60; RM3.40 and RM5.50.

"The new toll rate at the CIQ is according to the facilities and services enjoyed by users going through the complex from the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) Expressway," he said.

He said toll collection would be done electronically to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Motorists not going through the CIQ will not be affected by the toll fare hike.

The old rates implemented in January 2011 are RM2.90; RM4.50, RM6.10, RM1.40 and RM2.30.

Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin described the new rates as merely to control the inflow of vehicles.

"When we enter Singapore, besides the VEP (Vehicle Entry Permit), we also pay toll and when we are in the city, there are more tolls.

"So, the toll is a way for any country to control the increasing usage of vehicles," he said when asked to comment on the matter after an Aidilfitri ceremony in Pasir Gudang Saturday.