Singapore claims Malaysia's new VEP fee discriminates its vehicles

Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) said Malaysia's RM20 (S$7.16) vehicle entry permit (VEP) fee for foreign-registered vehicles entering through Johor, "discriminates Singapore vehicles", reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA).

The local television channel said the fee would start on Oct 1 and the ministry said Singapore will consider matching the levy in some form after studying its implementation.

MOT also said it was requesting for more information from the Malaysian authorities on their new requirement for Singapore vehicles to pre-register before entering Malaysia.

Recently, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi was reported as saying that from Sep 1, Singapore vehicles which are not registered with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) would be refused entry into Malaysia.

Online registration starts on Aug 15 and will cost vehicle owners RM10 (S$3.60) for five years.

CNA quoted an MOT spokesperson as saying that "such costs and inconveniences could discourage Singaporeans from going to Malaysia, in particular Johor, for leisure purposes such as shopping, entertainment, sight-seeing, holiday".