Govt to come up with vehicle entry permit rate soon

Hot wheels: Abdul Aziz (left) together with Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Abdul Ghani Daud (right) inspecting a Proton Arena that was given to the Parit Raja Bomba Volunteer team in Johor.

BATU PAHAT: The Government is in the final stages of coming up with a vehicle entry permit rate for foreign-registered vehicles that enter Malaysia via Johor.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the Economic Planning Unit was still deliberating on the exact figure that should be imposed.

“Personally, I think the figure will not exceed RM50 per trip,” he said here yesterday, adding that the fee was expected to be implemented by January.

During his visit to Johor in July, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the Government would implement the vehicle entry permit fee for all foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor, following a request by the state.

The state government had submitted a proposal for the fee that was to have been implemented at the Causeway and Second Link in 2006, but it was scrapped.

On a separate matter, Abdul Aziz urged for more Fire and Rescue volunteer teams (PBS) and auxiliary fire stations to be set up in rural areas to aid the Fire and Rescue Department during emergencies.

The Sri Gading MP said he would look into the formation of such a team at the Tongkang Pecah town and set up a RM2mil-odd auxiliary fire station at Parit Yaani.

“These teams could help keep emergency situations under control while waiting for the Fire and Rescue Department team to arrive as sometimes the nearest stations could be miles away,” he said after launching the Parit Raja PBS.