Brilio.net/en - Malaysia is a cool place for Singaporeans to take an affordable weekend getaway. Often, foreigners visiting Singapore also want to check out the city-states northern neighbor. Its convenient too, as it only takes about 30 minutes to get to Johor from Singapore. The Causeway and the Second Link are the two roadways to get there. So what comes next? Rent a car, and just start driving, right? Wrong.
The Malaysian government recently announced the drive from Singapore to Malaysia will no longer be a free one, as Singaporean visitors now have to get a vehicle entry permit (VEP) first. Needless to say, people are annoyed.
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Image via The Star
Vehicles that have Singapore plate numbers will need to be registered to be eligible for the VEP. This will apply to both roadways into the country. According to Free Malaysia Today, there are currently over 120,000 foreign vehicles that have registered for the VEP, although online registration will remain open until end of the year.
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In the future, Singapores VEP-registered vehicles will be charged for RM20 (US$5) per entry. The fee will have to be paid using a Touch n Go card, an electronic payments method used by Malaysians for toll expenses. However, this fee will not take effect until July of 2016, as the scheme is currently still in its trial phase.
According to Today Online, the VEP registration process can be done online via Malaysias Road Transportation Department, or at the Johor Customs, Immigrations, and Quarantine Complex. The permit is set to be valid for five years. The VEP plan has actually been in the making since August 2015, but was delayed for a while due to technical issues. Nnow that its moving ahead, however, Singaporeans may feel free to complain.
Image via Free Malaysia Today
Malaysias Road Transport Department director Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said that with the system up and running, people with active legal summons would be held until the issues are resolved. He told the media, The system can also help prevent vehicle cloning, since there was no vehicle entry registration system for Singapore vehicles before this. Those who intend to dispose [of] their vehicles by selling them cheap [in Malaysia] will no longer be allowed to do so.
Theres no denying the VEP will cut down on cross-border crime and help both governments capture fugitives. But in the end, Singaporeans will grumble and moan about Malaysia stealing their pocket money, and making them jump through hoops just to see the waterfalls at Endau-Rompin National Park.
Author: Karen Tungka via Content Collision