KUALA LUMPUR: Motorists in three major Malaysian cities – including Johor Bahru – may have to pay congestion charges should a proposal for such a mechanism that is currently being studied by the federal government get the green light.

But an official from the Johor state government has poured cold water on the plan, noting that the proposal may only work well if there is an efficient public transport system that is put in place beforehand, among other suggestions.