KUALA LUMPUR: Fee collection from the implementation of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) is expected to reach more than RM100mil in 2024, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said talks will be held with the Finance Ministry on ways to improve public transportation in Johor with the revenue generated.
"Collection from the VEP was RM91,037,040 in 2023.
"With the expected increase in vehicles from Singapore entering Johor this year, I estimate the collection to surpass RM100mil," he said when replying to a supplementary question from Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 22).
He said the revenue collected by the government is channelled to the government's Consolidated Fund.
"For every RM20 collected for VEP, RM5 is given to the Johor government.
"We will negotiate with and convince the Finance Ministry that the collection is channelled to the Johor for public transport purposes," he said.
He said the money could be used to increase public bus routes in Johor following the completion of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link connecting Johor Baru and Singapore.
The RTS reached 83% completion as of July 2024 and is on track to start operations on Jan 1, 2027.
Earlier, Loke informed the House that as of September, 89,818 trips were made by vehicles crossing over from Johor to Singapore comprising 31,194 cars, 53,000 motorcycles, 3,531 buses and 2,093 lorries.
He also said 4,397,229 vehicles from Singapore entered Johor as of September this year.
"We collected road charges totalling RM87,944,580.
"On average, 16,107 vehicles enter Johor from Singapore daily," he said, adding that the increase in vehicles entering Johor was a positive sign of economic growth for the state.
