Vehicles from S'pore need entry permit to enter M'sia

JOHOR BARU/SINGAPORE — Malaysia has started its trial run for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system for foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore.

While there is no levy now, a RM20 (S$6.60) per entry road charge will be imposed on foreign-registered private vehicles from July 16 after the trial ends, State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Hasni Mohammad told Bernama.

Under the VEP system, private, commercial and embassy/government vehicles will have to be registered online or at the office of Malaysia’s Road Transport Department. The registration will cost RM10, which is valid for five years. A radio-frequency identification card is then issued to each vehicle.

Mr Hasni told Bernama that 120,000 Singapore vehicles have registered under the VEP system and registrations will continue until the end of the year.

According to a report in The Star, each vehicle lane at the checkpoints is equipped with cameras and sensors to read number plates and RFID tags. Mr Hasni was reported as saying that anyone driving a vehicle with Singapore plates, including Malaysians, will be charged VEP on the Malaysian side. “We also do not offer special discounts, like Singapore does,” he reportedly said.

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

The RM20 road charge, which was supposed to take effect last year, has been repeatedly delayed. The levy can be paid only with a Touch ‘n Go card, which is used to pay toll fees on all Malaysian expressways. Motorcycles, commercial and embassy/government vehicles are exempted from the road charge.

Since August 2014, drivers of Malaysian-registered cars entering Singapore pay VEP charges of SS$35 a day, while motorcyclists pay S$4. There are no VEP charges for driving into Singapore on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.