JOHOR BARU is conducting a trial run of its long-delayed Vehicle Entry Permit System (VEP) on incoming Singapore vehicles at its Causeway and Second Link checkpoints, which will last till July 15, Malaysian media reported.
During the trial period, which began at midnight yesterday, Singapore vehicles entering Johor need not pay the VEP fee of RM20 (S$6.60), reported Bernama news agency.
The fee will only be imposed from July 16.
“Meanwhile, the registration of vehicles for VEP will be open until the end of the year,” Hasni Mohammad, chairman of Johor’s Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee, told Bernama.
Singapore vehicles not registered with VEP, which is run by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ), will be refused entry into the country after the system is fully implemented.
A road charge of RM10 is to be paid during registration, which will be valid for five years.
According to Mr Hasni, 120,000 Singapore vehicles have already registered.
Johor’s transport chief also said the JPJ will be involved in the trial for two weeks – which will mainly ensure there are no glitches when using the cameras and sensors installed on vehicle lanes to read number plates and the VEP identification tags, reported The Star daily.
But Mr Hasni warned that Singapore-registered vehicles which have not settled summonses will be detected.
There will be JPJ staff available round the clock at the checkpoints to help officers and drivers who run into problems with the system, said Mr Hasni.
Starting yesterday, Malaysian immigration officers must also personally check vehicles carrying many passengers to ensure the correct number of passports are submitted.
The VEP, which was originally slated for launch in August last year, looks unlikely to be fully implemented before next year.
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