JOHOR BARU: The implementation of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) charge of RM20 for every foreign vehicle entering Malaysia from Singapore is expected to start on Aug 1.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abd Aziz Kaprawi said the government was procuring and installing the equipment at the Causeway in Johor and Malaysia-Singapore Second Link to facilitate collection of the fee.
"This is the first time Malaysia is implementing the charge and definitely it will take time in terms of procuring and installing the equipment," he told reporters after flagging off participants in the “Funride and Criterium Road Race” in conjunction with the coronation of the Sultan of Johor at Dataran Bandaraya here today.
Bernama quoted Abd Aziz as saying that the same charge would be imposed if VEP is implemented for foreign vehicles entering the country via other entry points such as from Thailand.
In a related development, Johor plans to ban heavy vehicles from using the Causeway to transport goods from Singapore in an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the link.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said a proposal on the directive would be submitted to the Federal Government for further action.
He said banning heavy vehicles from using the Causeway here would facilitate and make way for the construction of the proposed rapid transit system (RTS) linking Johor Baru and Singapore.
“His Majesty (Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Sultan Iskandar) had earlier this year brought up the issue to the state government and we’ll submit the proposal to the Transport Ministry,’’ Hasni said in a press conference after launching the intervarsity engineering leadership programme 2015 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai Campus here.
Hasni quoted Sultan Ibrahim as saying that heavy vehicles should use the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah permanently instead of the Causeway.
He said although the Causeway had been designated as the route for lorries from Malaysia and Thailand under the Asean Protocol 1, Malaysia and Singapore could designate the Second Link Crossing for them to use the link.
“We don’t see any issue with Singapore as it will help to improve connectivity and accessibility at the Causeway. This benefits Johor and Singapore economically,’’ said Hasni.
Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore are linked by the 1.056km Causeway, with 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles using it daily.
