VEP fee will have minimal impact on Singaporeans, says Wee

GELANG PATAH: The proposed Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor Baru will have minimal to no impact on Singaporeans entering the city via the Causeway and Second Link.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said that tourist arrivals from across the border would not drop just because of an imposed entry fee and that Singaporeans would still come into Malaysia for cheaper food and cheaper products.

"Even with the proposed fee of RM20 suggested by Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, it is only around S$7.50 for Singaporeans.

"I do not think there is anything for them to worry about compared to the S$35 VEP charge to be imposed on foreign vehicles entering Singapore starting next month," Dr Wee said at press conference here on Thursday.

It was reported that Prime Minister Najib Razak said the decision to implement the VEP fee was made following a request from the state with the date of implementation and rates to be announced later.

Singapore's Land Transport Authority recently announced that the VEP charge for foreign-registered vehicles entering the island republic would be raised from the current S$20 (RM50) to S$35 (RM85.70) starting from Aug 1.