200 drivers turn up on opening day of Malaysia’s VEP information counter in Woodlands

SINGAPORE – Private-hire driver Jackson Tan applied for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) to drive into Malaysia on July 8, but was only told on Aug 19 to collect it from the Danga Bay centre in Johor in October.

His application had been missing his vehicle log card, which can be retrieved from the Land Transport Authority’s OneMotoring website.

This mistake in his application was brought to his attention by staff at the new VEP information counter located on the third floor of 186 Woodlands Industrial Park E5.

Mr Tan, 55, was the only person at the information counter at 11.25am on Aug 19 when the counter opened for the first time. It has two counter staff and three technical support staff.

By 2pm, the crowd had swelled to 200 people.

From Oct 1, all foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore by land

will be required to use a VEP, which

acts like an “identity card” for these vehicles in Malaysia.

Among other things, it will allow the authorities to help track the vehicles’ traffic records, including summonses and offences.

The VEP requirement will apply to motorists entering the two Johor checkpoints – at the Sultan Iskandar complex via the Causeway and the Sultan Abu Bakar complex via the Second Link.

Motorists without a valid VEP risk being denied entry into Johor or fined up to RM2,000 (S$600).

Mr Tan said his online application had some document issues, so he resubmitted it over two weeks ago.

He added: “But it was still pending, so I came here to find out more. Now, I have my appointment slot to collect my VEP in Malaysia.”

He said that the Woodlands information counter was good for Singaporean drivers, as the other VEP counter was in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru.

The counter guides Singaporean drivers through the online application process. The service is free.

Motorists will not be able to install or collect their VEP-radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at the counter. They can collect it only at the Danga Bay collection centre in Johor, or opt for delivery by post to an address in Singapore or Malaysia.

The tag will allow them to pay the RM20 road charge, which is levied for the use of roads, when they enter Johor via the two checkpoints, and also the toll fees on Malaysia’s expressways for using the designated RFID lanes.

The Woodlands counter is operated by Singapore firm MY VEP in collaboration with TCSens, a private vendor appointed by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) to assist motorists with their VEP applications.

Without giving an exact address, JPJ had previously said an information counter would

open in Woodlands on Aug 19.

Mr Ng Poh Heng, acting manager for MY VEP, said the Woodlands office was established after feedback from Singaporeans at the Danga Bay centre that there should be a similar one in Singapore so they can avoid having to travel to Johor.

The Woodlands counter helps drivers who have pre-existing VEP applications or those who want to learn more about the guidelines and requirements to submit a successful application. It acts only as an information counter, and staff there will not help drivers apply for a VEP.

Mr Ng said: “We can check the status of their application and tell them the reasons their applications may be pending. It could be they did not submit a particular document.”

At around 2pm, Mr Ng said the queue peaked, with about 200 drivers waiting for queue tickets. He allowed only the first 100 drivers to get queue tickets and turned the rest away, telling them to return the next day for a number.

Mr Ng added that the information counter will implement an online appointment system by next week to improve scheduling, so the centre can help more motorists and prevent long waiting times for them.

To apply for a VEP, drivers must submit photos of their NRIC and copies of their vehicle log card and insurance document for a plan with at least six months’ validity. They must also submit details of their passport, certificate of entitlement, and vehicle road tax and model. Counter staff said

improper documentation was the most common reason behind an unsuccessful application.

Drivers must also pay any outstanding fines and summonses from JPJ before applying for a VEP.

The VEP was announced in 2017 and its implementation

was postponed twice,

in 2019 and 2020, due to issues with the VEP-RFID tag’s installation and registration. On June 25, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said there

will be “no U-turn” this time.

The Woodlands information counter is open on weekdays from 9.30am to 5pm.