S'pore drivers fined a total of $290,000 in three months for entering Johor without VEP tag

More than 3,100 drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles have been issued writs of summons for failing to possess a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) tag when entering Malaysia since enforcement began on July 1.

The summonses, which came up to RM944,400 (S$290,000), were issued to 3,148 offenders, said Johor's Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysia's Berita Harian reported on Oct 1.

Each summons was for RM300, and the amount had been tallied as at Sept 28, Berita Harian reported JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli as saying.

The VEP tag, which is RFID-enabled, allows the Malaysian authorities to identify foreign-registered vehicles on the country's roads and track any outstanding fines for traffic offences, which must be settled before the vehicles exit the country.

Describing the VEP system as an important one for road safety and preventing the misuse of foreign vehicles in Malaysia, Mr Aedy told Berita Harian on Sept 30: "This is because the Malaysian authorities can then monitor foreign vehicles, enhance safety and manage traffic summonses while they are in the country.

"We will continue to strengthen enforcement from time to time."

Cashless-only payments for the fines can be made at JPJ counters, JPJ mobile counters or online via the MyEG system.

Within the first month of enforcement, 1,489 drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles were caught entering Malaysia without a VEP tag.

JPJ senior enforcement director Kifli Ma Hassan said on Aug 3 that most of the drivers said they did not know enforcement had started.

The drivers were checked near Johor's two land checkpoints - Woodlands Causeway and Tuas Second Link - as well as other parts of the state.

As at Aug 31, 306,449 Singapore vehicles have registered for the VEP, Mr Aedy added.