Since the enforcement of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system by Malaysia’s Transport Ministry last Tuesday, there has been a slight decline in the number of Singapore-registered vehicles entering the country through the Johor Causeway and Tuas Second Link.
This dip follows the new regulation requiring Singaporean vehicles to register and activate VEP tags before entering Malaysia.
Number Of SG-registered vehicles entering M’sia declines slightly
Johor State Road Transport Department (RTD) director, Azmil Zainal Adnan, confirmed that while all counters were in full operation, there was a slight reduction in traffic from Singapore at both land checkpoints, reported NST.
Despite the lower volume of traffic, vehicles fitted with VEP tags moved smoothly through both checkpoints without any glitches.
Data from the ‘Beat the Jam’ traffic app showed that motorists traveling via the Johor Causeway took between 21 and 32 minutes to cross, while those using the Tuas Second Link took between 11 and 17 minutes to clear the checkpoints—both significantly faster than the typical one-hour wait on weekdays before the VEP enforcement.
Warning notices to vehicle owners who enter Malaysia without a valid VEP tag
Azmil Zainal also noted that no Singaporean vehicles were turned away for failing to comply with the VEP regulations.
RTD officers have been issuing warning notices to vehicle owners who enter Malaysia without a valid VEP tag, encouraging them to comply with the new regulations before leaving the country.
Full enforcement Of VEP penalties set for January 2025
Full enforcement, which includes fines for non-compliance, is expected to begin on January 1, 2025.
The introduction of the VEP is part of Malaysia’s efforts to regulate foreign vehicle entry and improve border management.
For now, authorities are focusing on educating motorists about the new system, while the enforcement of penalties will be phased in later.
While the smoother traffic conditions have been welcomed by many motorists, the reduction in cross-border traffic has raised concerns among Johor businesses.
Retailers and those in the hospitality sector, who rely heavily on Singaporean visitors, fear that the decline in vehicle numbers may affect their revenues.
However, industry experts believe that the traffic reduction is temporary and expect normal traffic levels to return once more motorists register for the VEP.
