Story perspectives

Indonesia, Singapore refuse Malacca tolls; Malaysia urges four-state consent

4/24/2026

Summary

Indonesia Rejects Tolls

Indonesia announced on 23 April 2026 it will not impose tolls on Strait of Malacca ships.
Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa floated a levy on 22 April 2026, citing Iran’s Hormuz tolls.
Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore will not join any toll scheme and will keep transit passage open.
Both Indonesia and Singapore said tolls would breach UNCLOS, prompting Malaysia foreign minister Mohamad Hasan to warn any toll must involve four littoral states.

Summary

Malacca Strait Bottleneck

Under UNCLOS the Strait of Malacca is a transit passage, guaranteeing interference-free navigation for all vessels.
The strait lies within the overlapping waters of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, making it a shared international waterway.
At its narrowest, the Phillips Channel is only about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) wide, creating a critical bottleneck.
A depth of only 25 m blocks the largest supertankers, which must detour via the Lombok Strait.

History

Historical Context

The 1982 UNCLOS conference, concluded in 1994, established the right of transit passage through strategic straits such as the Malacca–Lombok corridor. Building on this framework, Indonesia’s 2026 decision to reject tolls—joined by Malaysia and Singapore—relies on the treaty’s navigation provisions, showing how multilateral law now curtails unilateral revenue schemes, effectively shaping future disputes.

1 of 3

Indonesia Rejects Tolls

Indonesia announced on 23 April 2026 it will not impose tolls on Strait of Malacca ships.
Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa floated a levy on 22 April 2026, citing Iran’s Hormuz tolls.
Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore will not join any toll scheme and will keep transit passage open.
Both Indonesia and Singapore said tolls would breach UNCLOS, prompting Malaysia foreign minister Mohamad Hasan to warn any toll must involve four littoral states.

1 / 3