SINGAPORE - Singapore's policy of matching tolls Malaysia imposes for use of the Causeway and Second Link is a "long standing" one, Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said on Tuesday.

Mrs Teo told Parliament: "It reflects the shared nature of the two crossings, and ensures a fair distribution of total revenues from the crossings."

She added that if there were no such policy, "lower toll charges by one side may simply be offset by higher tolls rivalled by the other side".

"There is no assurance that toll charges foregone by one side will be translated into lower total charges which benefit motorists," she added.

Mrs Teo said this in Parliament Tuesday in response to Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh's question on whether the government planned to review its policy of matching toll charges by Malaysia in future.

She reiterated that Singapore would "in due course" match Malaysia's latest revision that kicked in on Aug 1.

Mr Singh also asked whether a study had been carried out to assess the impact of higher toll charges on Singapore businesses operating in the Iskandar region.

Mrs Teo said the government "has limited information on the cost structures and market conditions of Singapore businesses operating in the Iskandar zone in Johor", adding: "Clearly, there will be some impact on their costs."