Traffic arriving from Singapore's Woodlands checkpoint into Johor Baru on Oct 1. - ST
SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) scheme for foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore by land has started.
Effective from Oct 1, all such vehicles must have installed and activated a VEP radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is linked to a Touch ‘n Go eWallet. Those without a tag can still enter the country, but will receive a reminder.
They will also be issued warnings upon exiting Malaysia, the country’s Road Transport Department announced on Sept 27, amid complaints in Singapore of delays and snags in the application process.
At about 10am on Oct 1, checkpoint monitoring app Beat The Jam showed that vehicles heading into Johor via the Causeway in Woodlands needed about 15 to 23 minutes to clear the checkpoint, which is a drop from 23 to 35 minutes an hour before.
Over at the Second Link in Tuas, the estimated time needed to clear the checkpoint remained consistent from 8am to 10am - motorists were expected to take with a maximum of 22 minutes, with the fastest clear times ranging from 13 to 14 minutes. The wait time had peaked earlier at about 7.30am, with an estimated clear time of 18 to 28 minutes.
Data from the same day a week ago show clear times peaking at more than an hour at about 11am at the Causeway checkpoint, with a smaller peak of nearly 40 minutes near 7pm.
For the Second Link, last week’s data showed a peak of about 40 minutes near 11am, and another of more than 50 minutes, just before 7pm.
Reporters from The Straits Times arrived at the customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Causeway in Woodlands at about 8.58am in a rental car.
VEP registration signs were placed at the entrance, visible to vehicles that were about to enter the checkpoint booths.
When ST’s vehicle arrived at one of the booths, the immigration officer checking the passports asked for a VEP tag, as well as confirmation if the checkpoint toll had been paid. As the rental car did not possess a VEP tag, a confirmation slip was shown instead.
The officer then told ST’s reporters to speak with another officer through an intercom, who asked if the car was registered in Singapore or Malaysia.
ST then cleared the customs at 9.03am without any issues.
For those planning to drive to Malaysia, here is what they need to look out for.
A VEP acts like an “identity card” for vehicles – each permit, which is renewable every five years, has an RFID tag that allows the Malaysian authorities to identify a foreign-registered vehicle on the country’s roads.
It can be used to pay toll fees on Malaysian highways, as well as the RM20 (S$6) road charge levied on foreign vehicles when they enter Malaysia.
First announced in 2017, the scheme is intended to determine the number of foreign vehicles entering Malaysia, and to prevent car theft and deter car-cloning syndicates. It will also enable the Malaysian authorities to track a vehicle’s traffic offences and outstanding summonses, which must be settled before exiting the country.
The VEP application process has been dogged by complaints, such as applicants not receiving confirmation e-mails even after waiting a month, and long queues and insufficient manpower to handle demand at VEP centres in Singapore and Johor. - The Straits Times/ANN
