SINGAPORE - A new RM20 ($6.60) levy on Singapore-registered cars entering Malaysia, which was rolled out on Tuesday (Nov 1), will be matched "in some form" by Singapore.

Labelling the road charge scheme as "discriminatory", the Republic's Ministry of Transport said it is biased against Singapore-registered vehicles, as the fee is applied only at Malaysia's checkpoints with the Republic.

"We will match it in some form," the ministry said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening. It added that details will be announced in due course.

As of 12.01am on Tuesday (Nov 1), those driving Singapore-registered cars to Johor - either via the Causeway or Second Link - have been charged an additional RM20 fee, on top of the checkpoint tolls imposed by both countries.

With the new road charge, a round trip for a Singapore car going into Johor will incur more than $19 in tolls and fees.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Saturday (Oct 29) that its road charge scheme was not discriminatory.

"We will impose the road charge not only at our border with Singapore, but also our borders with Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia with a similar charge of RM20 per car," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama news report.

Besides Singapore, Malaysia also shares 10 other road entry checkpoints with Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.