Malaysia’s government must explain repeated delays to the introduction of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and if it still intends to implement the charge, said Johor residents. The New Straits Times quoted several of them as saying that there have been no updates on the system, leading them to suspect the move has been secretly scrapped.
“I wonder what seems to be taking the government years to decide on this entry fee charge.
“I hope this is not just talk and no action as I recall this VEP plan was mooted a couple of years ago,” 44 year-old Tiew Hui Ping told the newspaper.
Ms Tiew said the collection from the VEP could be used to fund projects and fix the roads in Johor.
Another Johor resident, Saravanan Batumalai, said he hoped the government will resolve the issue quickly.
“The VEP charge should also be imposed on Singaporean motorcyclists entering as right now, Malaysian motorcyclists have to pay up to S$4 (RM12.05) everytime they cross over to Singapore,” the 24 year-old said.
Ms Salimah Muhari from Kangkar Pulai said the government should have started implementing the VEP charge when the Singaporean government revised their toll rates at the checkpoints and increased its VEP fees to S$35 per day.
“The RM20 fee proposed for the VEP charge is reasonable and I don’t think it will burden the Singaporeans,” the 24 year-old said.
Back in July, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that the government has no plan to scrap the implementation of the VEP and said it will be resumed once the system is ready to go.
The VEP, which was first proposed back in 2006, was supposed to start with a charge of RM20 for foreign vehicles entering Johor on July 16, but was postponed for the fourth time.
Source: TODAY Online
