Malaysia adds more staff to handle VEP queries as applications surge

Malaysia has added more manpower to reply to queries on the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for foreign vehicles entering Malaysia from Oct 1, with the number of applications it received within a month exceeding those in the whole of 2023.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on July 1 that the number of staff dedicated to replying to e-mails on the upcoming move has been tripled from five to 15, and the number of employees at the VEP collection centre in Johor Bahru has been increased from seven to 12.

The surge in applications comes after Malaysia announced on May 28 that all foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore by land will be required to have a VEP from Oct 1.

Mr Loke revealed that 23,649 VEP applications were received between May 28 and June 29. This exceeded the 15,424 applications for all of 2023, and the 4,762 applications from Jan 1 to May 27, 2024.

To date, 6,120 VEP radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have been issued and 1,080 tags activated.

“The backlog is expected to be resolved in the next few weeks,” Mr Loke said at a press conference in Putrajaya, adding that the government is committed to ensuring that all applicants receive their tags on time.

Under the new VEP rules, foreign vehicle owners will be required to register, install and activate their VEP tags.

The tag will allow motorists to pay the RM20 (S$5.80) road charge when they enter Johor from Singapore via either of the two land checkpoints, and to pay the toll fees on Malaysia’s expressways using the designated RFID lanes.

Without a valid VEP, which operates as an “identity card” for foreign vehicles in Malaysia, motorists risk being denied entry to Johor or fined up to RM2,000.

The requirement will apply to motorists entering Johor at the checkpoints at the Sultan Iskandar Building via the Causeway, or the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex via the Second Link.

With the VEP, the Malaysian government will be able to track the traffic records, including summonses and offences, of foreign-registered vehicles.

Mr Loke also announced on July 1 several functions that can be done online via the VEP portal. These include cancellation or deregistration of the VEPs, and registering a change of vehicle ownership.

“Vehicle owners can e-mail us to make the changes online instead of coming in person to our counters,” Mr Loke said.

He said renewal of the VEP can be done online without having to wait for any existing permits to expire.

“Reminders will be sent out to vehicle owners three times – 60, 30 and 10 days before VEP expiry. VEPs which have expired after five years will be automatically cancelled,” he said.

Mr Loke said that from Aug 1, road users will be able to use credit and debit cards, in addition to the existing Touch ’n Go cards, to pay the RM20 road charge. However, they have to install a mobile app called MDGS to do so.