Malaysia extends foreign-vehicle registration deadline to Oct 1

SINGAPORE — Malaysia is extending the mandatory registration deadline for foreign vehicles entering the country to Oct 1 from Sept 1, news agency Bernama reported today (Sept 2).

The authorities had expected 500,000 foreign vehicles to be registered under the scheme, but just 45,000 — fewer than 10 per cent the anticipated number — have been registered, Bernama quoted Mr Hasni Mohammad, chairman of the State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee, as saying.

Malaysia had given foreign vehicles two weeks from Aug 15 to register online or at the office of the Road Transport Department.

The registration involves a RM10 (S$3.36) road charge, which is valid for five years. A radio-frequency identification card is also issued to each vehicle.

Mr Hasni was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying on Tuesday that the online registration system could not handle the volume of requests and needed improvement.

The extension of the deadline will also allow for cards to be delivered and approved by the Malaysian and Singapore authorities, reported Bernama.

Registered vehicles will be allowed free entrance into Johor for one month, from Sept 1 to Sept 30.

From Oct 1, motorists of private vehicles will have to pay RM20 for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) each time they enter Johor. This is in addition to existing toll charges which they will also have to pay.

The VEP will be levied on all passenger vehicles. Government vehicles, motorcycles, public buses and taxis are exempted, though they will still be required to register.

According to previous media reports, Malaysia is also aiming to roll out by the middle of next year a second phase of the VEP system that will cover the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Last month, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said it was considering imposing a similar vehicle entry fee on private vehicles entering the Republic from Malaysia. In a statement, a spokesperson said Malaysia’s fee “discriminates against Singapore vehicles”.