January start for VEP delayed

KLUANG: The Government is delaying the implementation of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) as it wants to introduce the system simultaneously at the northern and southern borders.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the VEP, previously set to start in January next year, would be delayed for some fine tuning.

“The Government wants to ensure that the system is synchronised at both borders, namely the JohorSingapore and Padang BesarThailand borders.

“Once the system is in place, we will start the VEP at these two borders simultaneously,” he said.

Liow, who is also the MCA president, said this to reporters after attending a gathering with some 700 Paloh MCA leaders and the local community here yesterday.

He added that the ministry was confident that the VEP would be enforced early next year.

Malaysia currently imposes a road charge (RC) of RM20 (S$6.61) per vehicle on foreign vehicles entering the country via Johor from Singapore.

It was implemented at the Johor Causeway here and the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah, on Nov 1 last year.

The VEP, at RM25, would be valid for five years.

The RC collection had been going on smoothly at the Johor checkpoints, Liow said.

“After sorting out and finalising a few more things, we will also be implementing RC at the Thai border along with the VEP,” he said.