VEP still not fully enforced, Singapore drivers have ‘nothing to worry’ about for now: Malaysia’s transport minister

Automotive expert Muhd Raden Anwar – who is also chief executive officer for one of Malaysia’s biggest car rental players Wahdah – told CNA that it would be “logical” for the government to enforce fines against Singapore motorists “only when” almost all the VEP applications have been completed and their tags activated. 

“It would not be fair if the government enforces the payment of fines when many Singapore drivers are still facing issues getting their (RFID) tags and installing them,” he added. 

However, Muhd Raden acknowledged that the VEP was a tool to ensure the government could track foreign drivers who have outstanding fines, and that implementing the system was a positive move. 

“It’s a way to also track data of foreign vehicles that enter the country and this can help (with) urban planning,” he added. 

Loke had previously said that as of Sep 30, Malaysia has issued 112,658 RFID tags to drivers, of which 75,412 have been activated.

DRIVERS’ CONCERN ABOUT PREMATURE ENFORCEMENT 

When CNA did checks at the four VEP centres in Johor Bahru recently, there were generally no long queues and most drivers could complete the process in less than an hour. 

However, some drivers continued to face issues in the application process, and expressed concern that potential enforcement could be implemented prematurely. 

Singaporean driver Setiamorti Suppiah told CNA last week that he was having issues completing his VEP application despite coming down to the TCSens Danga Bay office seven times over the past five months to make enquiries with officials. 

“It’s been utterly frustrating, I applied when they first announced it (in May) but it’s still not done,” added the retiree, who said that although his RFID tag had already been installed on his car, the RFID sensors at the toll booths could not detect the mechanism.