Malaysia to fully enforce VEP for Singapore vehicles starting October 1, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Starting October 1 2024, Malaysia will enforce the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for all foreign vehicles entering from Singapore. Transport Minister Anthony Loke explained that this regulation will apply to entry points at both the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) in Tambak, Johor, and the CIQ Complex at the Sultan Abu Bakar building at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link.

According to New Straits Times, Loke stated, "Since April 2019, the transport ministry has implemented the registration of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for foreign vehicle owners crossing the CIQ Complex at Sultan Iskandar Building in Tambak Johor and the CIQ Complex at Sultan Abu Bakar Building. To ensure that foreign vehicle owners fully comply with road regulations in Malaysia, the Transport Ministry wishes to inform that the VEP regulations will be fully enforced starting Oct 1."

He further emphasized, "Anyone driving a foreign motor vehicle without VEP before entering or while in Malaysia is committing an offence in accordance with Section 66H (7) of the Road Transport Act 1987. If convicted, they may be fined up to RM2,000 or imprisoned for up to six months as stipulated in Section 119 (2) of Act 333."

Loke also highlighted that the Road Transport Department (RTD) has the authority to prohibit any foreign vehicle without a VEP from entering Malaysia. Additionally, the RTD can prevent any foreign vehicle from leaving the country if there are unresolved matters under Act 333, in line with the provisions under Section 66J of Act 333. "This means that if they have committed a road offence or have outstanding summons, they would have to settle them first before leaving the country," he explained.

The process to obtain a VEP has been simplified, with the VEP RFID tag being delivered to the vehicle owner's home after application. The cost for the VEP tag is RM10, and it will be valid for five years. Loke encouraged all foreign vehicle owners who will be crossing Tambak, Johor, and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link to use the time from now to either renew their expiring VEP or complete the registration process to obtain the VEP for their vehicles.

"According to records, there are only about 70,000 Singapore-registered motor vehicles that have registered and activated the VEP tag compared to over 200,000 motor vehicles that have registered but have not yet completed the process of installing and activating their VEP tags. I have also communicated with my Singaporean counterpart on this matter," he said.

Addressing the delay in enforcement, Loke mentioned that there were numerous technical issues when the system was built in 2019, and the pandemic further hindered cross-border travel.

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