PUTRAJAYA: A Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) RFID tag will be required on foreign vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore starting Oct 1, 2024, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at a press conference in Putrajaya on May 28.
Loke said that Malaysia will fully enforce the VEP system, which was initially introduced in 2019, on the Johor Causeway and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link.
VEP RFID Tag: What Will Be The Cost?
According to Loke, it will cost foreign vehicle owners only RM10 per VEP tag and it will be valid for five years.
He said that foreign vehicle owners from Singapore will also have the option to bring their foreign cars to Malaysia to have the RFID tag installed or request for it to be delivered to them for self-installation.
“All foreign vehicle owners are encouraged to register, instal and activate their VEP RFID tags within the next four months before October.”
“This is to avoid any issues when traveling by foreign vehicle between the two countries in the foreseeable future,” he said at a press conference at the Transport Ministry office on Tuesday.
What Are The Legal Implications?
He highlighted that drivers of foreign vehicles from Singapore who enter or are already present in Malaysia and who do not obtain a VEP RFID tag after the deadline of October 1 will have committed an offense under section 66H (7) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
If found guilty, the drivers will be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for up to six months under Section 119(2) of the same Act.
Loke said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be fully authorized to deny entry into Malaysia to foreign vehicles that do not possess a VEP RFID tag after the effective date.
“JPJ will also have the authority to prevent foreign vehicles from exiting Malaysia should they have unresolved issues.
“This will include unpaid fines or traffic summonses among many others under the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.
The decision to start enforcing VEP RFID tags from October was aimed at giving foreign vehicle owners enough time to register and install their tags, Loke said.
VEP RFID Tag: What Do The Records Say?
“Based on records, there are currently over 200,000 foreign vehicles that have applied for VEP but only 70,000 have activated their RFID tags.
“As such, this four-month period would help prevent any sort of sudden mad rush of vehicle owners travelling between the two countries which would cause unnecessary traffic congestion,” he added.
VEP Helpline
Anyone requiring more information should contact the VEP helpline at +603-7941 2888 or visit the VEP portal at https://vep.jpj.gov.my.
