Voices grow louder over VEP woes

JOHOR BARU: Singapore residents are calling on authorities here to enhance the online registration system for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags needed for the Foreign Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for Singapore-registered vehicles.

Despite the Malaysian government’s announcement allowing foreign vehicles to enter Johor without disruption past the Oct 1 deadline, long queues persist at the Danga Bay registration centre.

The Star found that congestion continues at both the Danga Bay centre and the installation locations at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) Southern Region Academy and the JPJ Johor Office in Taman Daya.

Zahari Tajudin, a 38-year-old broker from Singapore, said it takes about an hour for each person to learn how to complete their online registration.

“You need to register on two different websites, undergo two separate verifications, and upload documents in PDF. If young people like me find it challenging, imagine how difficult it is for the elderly.

“They will definitely need assistance, which adds to the congestion,” he said at the Danga Bay centre.

Another frustrated Singaporean, a logistics worker who wished to be identified as Teo, shared her experience of visiting the centre three times without resolution.

“I’ve registered online, but my vehicle information isn’t showing up despite repeated attempts. I emailed two weeks ago without a response, and the phone line is always busy, which is why I’ve been here waiting since 7am,” she said.

Teo, 40, said many visitors are present due to the online system’s inadequacies, suggesting improvements could benefit everyone and enhance the government’s image.

James Das, a 66-year-old retired private sector worker, highlighted the lack of facilities at the registration centre.

“There are no toilets or seats, and I’ve been standing here since early morning. Inside, there are only six counters available.

“I had hoped that when Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi visited recently, some improvements would follow. The government should have anticipated the influx of vehicles from Singapore and provided more options and staff to handle the crowds,” he said.

Das also expressed sympathy for the staff at the registration centre, who are overwhelmed by the number of people seeking VEP-related assistance.

As for 70-year-old business owner Ang Lai Seng, he felt there should have been clearer communications to help people better understand the VEP registration process.

“I was told registration was mandatory, yet now it seems we can still enter Johor and receive a warning, with the system being implemented in phases.

“A grace period until the end of the year would alleviate the rush,” he said, adding that he had visited the centre six times without seeing improvements.

Another Singaporean private sector worker Abdul Rashid Osman, 59, suggested that more centres would ease the overcrowding.

“This issue has persisted for months without a proper solution. Additional locations for registrations and enquiries would help.

“What’s the point of having two collection centres if people are stuck here trying to register?” he said, adding that clearer signage or partitions should be installed to manage the crowd.

The Transport Ministry, through JPJ, had earlier announced that beginning Oct 1, all vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore would require a VEP.

However, due to public concerns, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli confirmed that Singaporean vehicles without a VEP could continue to enter Johor as usual.

Meanwhile, a JPJ official said about 130,000 VEP tags are expected to be issued in the coming weeks, with 90,000 already registered.

He said the huge surge of 3,000% in applications started after the Transport Minister’s May 28 announcement on the requirement.

The official added that the influx of registration is expected to continue for at least another month.

The company managing this exercise, TCSens, he said, has been directed to address complaints regarding email replies and appointment scheduling for RFID tag installations.

“We also expect to increase the number of VEP centres in both Malaysia and Singapore soon,” the official said, adding that at present, there is one in Singapore and three in Johor Baru.

He added that while appointments have been fully booked at the Danga Bay centre, slots are available at the two new centres in Taman Daya and Larkin.