Singapore vehicles entering Malaysia without VEP fined RM300 as enforcement begins

Key Concepts:

• Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP): A permit required for foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia.
• Johor Bahru (JB): A city in Malaysia bordering Singapore.
• Touch 'n Go: A cashless payment system used in Malaysia, often required for toll payments.
• Causeway: A land link connecting Singapore and Malaysia.
• Enforcement Action: Measures taken to ensure compliance with VEP regulations, including roadblocks and fines.

VEP Enforcement and Fines:

• Starting today, enforcement of the VEP system for Singapore-registered cars entering Malaysia has begun.
• Drivers without a valid VEP are being fined 300 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 90 Singapore Dollars).
• Enforcement actions, including roadblocks, were conducted across Johor Bahru, starting just after midnight.

Long Waiting Times at VEP Centers:

• VEP centers in JB are experiencing long waiting times, with queues of at least 4 hours.
• One VEP center will operate 24/7 for the remainder of the month to accommodate the high demand.
• One Singaporean driver reported waiting 15-16 hours to obtain permits for three cars, queuing since the night before.

Reasons for Applying in Johor Bahru:

• Some drivers prefer applying for VEPs in JB due to issues with their Touch 'n Go accounts.
• Specifically, some drivers' Touch 'n Go systems are not linking properly, preventing them from completing the process in Singapore.
• One driver mentioned that the VEP center in Singapore was not effective for them, and the service is free in JB.

Increased Demand for VEPs:

• Demand for VEPs has increased significantly since the announcement of enforcement, rising by 3.5 times to over 32,000 since early June.

Notable Quotes:

• Singaporean driver fined at 1:00 p.m.: "He said he got it fixed 6 months ago but wasn't told it had to be activated earlier."
• Singaporean driver who waited 15-16 hours: "I took the queue until now so in total i waited for like over how many hours i think maybe about 15 16 hours."
• Driver explaining why he applied in JB: "It's only that my the system doesn't link to the my touch and go so i cannot uh i mean it doesn't detect the the uh the what you call that the fid uh then we cannot do it in singapore must come to here to reg uh to get them detected the vip center in singapore hasn't been very effective and it's free here so that's why we rather do it here."

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The implementation of VEP enforcement has led to immediate consequences for Singaporean drivers entering Malaysia without valid permits, resulting in fines and significant delays at VEP application centers in Johor Bahru. The surge in demand, coupled with technical issues related to Touch 'n Go accounts and perceived inefficiencies at Singaporean VEP centers, has driven many drivers to seek permits in JB, exacerbating the waiting times. The situation highlights the importance of ensuring VEP compliance and addressing the underlying issues with the application process to facilitate smoother border crossings.