Singapore vehicles need permit to enter Malaysia from May

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's long-delayed Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system requiring Singapore vehicles entering the country to be registered beforehand will be launched in May, according to Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

The system to be implemented at the two border crossings - the Causeway and the Second Link - with Singapore has been delayed several times since it was first scheduled to start on Aug 15 last year.

It has a five-year validity and costs vehicle owners an administration fee of RM10 (S$3.40). Each owner will get a radio-frequency identification tag.

With the VEP, foreign vehicles can remain in Malaysia for up to three months, on condition that their insurance and road tax are valid. Drivers of vehicles with expired permits face a RM150 fine on exiting Malaysia.

Singapore-registered vehicles must pay a RM20 road charge each time they enter Malaysia, according to the Road Transport Department website.

"The system will register foreign cars mostly from Singapore at our border to prevent cloned vehicles from being sold at low prices here," Datuk Seri Liow was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail Online.

On Aug 1, 2014, Singapore raised the cost of the VEP for foreign vehicles entering the Republic from $20 to $35 a day. It also increased the cost of the Goods Vehicle Permit from $10 to $40.

This article was first published on Jan 24, 2016.
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