Good business for S'pore services helping drivers secure VEP tag

Businesses offering Singapore car owners help with applying for Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) tags are seeing more demand for their services, with Malaysia enforcing the requirement since Oct 1.

- Harith Mustaffa

These "skip the queue" services cover assistance to apply for the VEP online, amend personal details, deregister an existing permit and collect and install the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at VEP collection centres in Johor and Singapore, customers and those offering such services told The Straits Times.

It costs anywhere between $25 and $168 for such services, compared with the RM40 (S$12) vehicle owners pay in total if they personally register for the permit via Malaysia's Road Transport Department (JPJ) website.

JPJ on its website says that "representatives" are allowed to do the registrations on behalf of vehicle owners, as long as they "ensure that the information provided is true and accurate".

It is mandatory for Singapore motorists entering Malaysia via its two land borders - at the Causeway and Second Link - to have the VEP from Oct 1.

But the application process has been marred by delays and technical issues, resulting in long queues at the VEP collection centres.

Malaysia says that for now, cars from Singapore can still enter Johor without a permit. However, those who have not applied for a VEP will be issued a written warning.

The VEP allows the Malaysian authorities to identify foreignregistered vehicles, enabling them to track traffic offences and outstanding writs of summons.

The New Paper reported in August that a Singapore company, Innox Group, was offering VEP "skip the queue" services at $138.

It has since increased the fee to $168.