PUTRAJAYA: From July 1, all vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore will require a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), as full enforcement of the scheme is set to begin.
Vehicles without a VEP face fines and must register for the permit before leaving Malaysia.
“We began this scheme with a soft approach, mainly advocacy, in October last year. No summons were issued then.
“But beginning July 1, the VEP will be fully enforced, whereby the Road Transport Department will issue summonses to foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore,” Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic) told a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters here.
The VEP scheme for foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore by land began on Oct 1 last year, initially focusing on advocacy.
Under the scheme, foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore by land are required to have a VEP, which comes in RFID tags issued by the Malaysian Transport Ministry.
The VEP RFID tag is linked to a Touch ‘n Go e-wallet account.
According to the vep.jpj.gov.my website, the VEP RFID tag processing fee is RM10, while the collection agent service fee is RM30.
Singapore also employs a VEP system for foreign-registered cars entering the republic.
The One Motoring site by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) states Malaysia-registered vehicles must have a valid Autopass card, insurance, road tax and the LTA’s VEP approval email before entering the country.
Loke said enforcement is in accordance with Section 66H(7) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which stipulates that it is an offence for any person to drive a foreign-registered motor vehicle into or within Malaysia without a valid permit.
Private and company vehicles without a valid VEP will be slapped with a RM300 fine.
The fine must be paid and the vehicles must be registered for the VEP prior to being permitted to exit Malaysia.
All clear: Singapore-registered vehicles arriving in Johor Baru after clearing Immigration at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
Private vehicles that have not yet activated a pre-registered VEP will receive a fine, which must be paid before exiting Malaysia.
Company vehicles that have not yet activated a pre-registered VEP will be issued with a reminder notice, and the vehicle will be allowed to exit Malaysia.
“It (the fine) must be paid via cashless methods at Road Transport Department counters, mobile counters or through MyEG.”
Loke assured Singaporean vehicle owners that their vehicles are still permitted to enter Malaysia despite not having a VEP. “We will already know it through our systems. They will be subject to our enforcement measures, which means they will receive a summons and must register for a VEP before exiting Malaysia,” he said.
“We are giving them a four-week notice period so that they have enough time to activate their RFID before July 1,” he added.
He said enforcement checks would be carried out at locations away from the Malaysia-Singapore border checkpoints to avoid congestion.
As of June 2 this year, a total of 231,018 RFID tags have been issued to private vehicles, with 36,511 yet to be activated or installed.
Applications for the VEP RFID tag can be made at vep.jpj.gov.my.
Vehicle owners can collect the VEP RFID tag either at the VEP Tag Collection Centre in Danga Bay or have it sent by post to their address.
