Singaporean drivers beware: VEP fines have started
Malaysian authorities began Vehicle Entry Permit enforcement operations early on July 1.
Nine months after the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) was first implemented, Malaysian authorities have begun enforcement operations on Singapore-registered vehicles without an activated VEP tag.
Once the clock struck midnight on Tuesday morning (July 1), Singapore-registered vehicles that fell afoul of the rule were pulled aside by Malaysian traffic police at the two land checkpoints and fined RM300 ($90.50).
Malaysian law makes it an offence for anyone to drive a foreign-registered vehicle without a permit when entering or being present in the country.
Before Tuesday, vehicles without the VEP tag were let off with a warning.
According to one Facebook user, police were seen setting up a roadblock on the Malaysian side of the Second Link from as early as 9pm.
CNA also reported 15 vehicles stopped within 15 minutes of the start of enforcement after midnight on the Malaysian side of the Causeway.
Pop-up counters were set up for offenders to pay their fines immediately.
Grace period over
Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on June 4 that the VEP system is vital for cross-border traffic control, as well as for enforcing traffic laws on foreign-registered vehicles.
Drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia are required to register online and pay a RM10 fee for the VEP Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, which is valid for five years. Each vehicle is subsequently charged RM20 per entry into Malaysia.
Failure to comply may result in the vehicle being prevented from leaving Malaysia until the RM300 fine is paid.
Company-owned vehicles with pre-registered VEP tags that have not been activated will be allowed to exit Malaysia with a reminder. This concession is in place because users have faced issues when registering the VEP e-wallet under a company name.
Fines can be paid only via cashless methods at Road Transport Department (JPJ) counters, mobile JPJ trucks, or online platforms, such as MyEG.
Malaysian news agency Bernama reported that as late as Monday, many Singapore-registered vehicle owners were still rushing to complete their VEP registration at a mall in Skudai, Johor which serves as a registration centre.
The Straits Times also reported that waves of Singapore motorists showed up at VEP application and installation centres in Singapore and Johor Bahru after Mr Loke's comments on June 4.
When The New Paper drove into Johor via the Second Link just before 9am, there were no roadblocks or enforcement officers observed on the Malaysian side in either direction. The same was noted during the return trip to Singapore an hour later.