VEP is not designed to bait S'poreans. It's the standard Malaysia Boleh

If you want to enjoy the best of a country, you should also prepare to embrace its worst.

- Lim Ai Leen

As the Oct 1 deadline neared for Singapore-registered cars to get their vehicle entry permits (VEPs) to enter Malaysia, complaints about the plan's botched roll-out got testy and ugly.

Comments I came across included "They are out to tekan (pressure) Singapore drivers for money", "They will gloat over Singapore cars stuck in traffic if the VEP causes tailbacks", and "Third world system for a third world country".

The overarching message seemed to be that Malaysia is intentionally making life difficult for Singaporeans driving into Johor by insisting they install VEP tags and then fumbling the application process.

I agree that it's frustrating when e-mails go unanswered for months, an hours-long queue leads to a "tutup" (closed in Malay) sign, or an app just refuses to refresh despite you repeatedly stabbing at your phone like a demented person. In fact, I can even empathise because I've been there as a Malaysian. This is normal life for us. It's not a special scheme we hatched just to torment our southern neighbours.

Need more convincing? Just over a week ago, Putrajaya had to U-turn on its Oct 10 deadline for Malaysians to log in to the road transport department's MyJPJ app using MyDigital ID. This is akin to Singapore drivers using Singpass to access certain services on the Land Transport Authority's OneMotoring website. The directive was called off after Malaysians voiced their frustration on social media over snags such as error messages, slow responses and their particulars not being registered even after several tries. Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, in January, concerns emerged over security flaws in Padu, a new central database system to help in aid distribution to Malaysia's low-income earners. Imagine the uproar in Singapore if your CDC vouchers never arrived because someone else could register your details for you. I exaggerate and embellish, but you get the picture.

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT