'Weirdly quiet': Fewer Singaporeans visit JB in past few days

Shops notice slump in footfall as vehicles without permit avoid entering Malaysia

- Harith Mustaffa

Mr Chan Wah Heng decided to step away from his usual spot at the cash register and could be heard calling out to potential patrons to stop for brunch at his bak kut teh and seafood joint on Oct 5.

The owner of Wah Heng Bak Kut Teh, located next to the popular shopping mall KSL City in Johor Bahru, had felt something was amiss throughout the week as his restaurant was quieter, with fewer meals served.

"It was really weird. The week was so quiet," Mr Chan, 60, told The Sunday Times. He has since realised that the slump in footfall was caused by fewer Singaporeans driving into JB after the new Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) rule kicked in on Oct 1.

Many Singaporeans had avoided entering Malaysia via the two land crossings over the past few days, with 20 per cent fewer vehicles entering from Singapore on Oct 1, The Star newspaper quoted a Home Ministry official as saying.

The good news is that Malaysia has delayed the strict implementation of the VEP regulation as the authorities rush to ensure that more owners of Singapore-registered vehicles get their permits, issuing errant drivers with only a written warning to do so.

"The authorities already said that they won't issue any fines, so more must be done to tell them (Singaporeans) to not worry too much," Mr Chan said, adding that 70 per cent of his customers are Singaporean.