JOHOR BAHRU: Nearly 1,500 Singapore drivers have been fined a total of RM445,800 (US$104,219) since the Vehicle Entry Permit scheme was fully enforced slightly more than a month ago, according to Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ). 

JPJ’s senior director for enforcement Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said the 1,489 drivers issued fines made up around 10 per cent of the 14,379 drivers who were checked between Jul 1 and Aug 2.  

“JPJ found that almost 90 per cent of Singapore cars had VEP installed and their radio frequency identification (RFID) tags activated,” he told reporters on Sunday night (Aug 3) during an enforcement operation at a roadblock about 100m from the immigration checkpoint at the Causeway.

Malaysian authorities have and will continue to stand firm and issue fines to all Singapore drivers who do not have a valid VEP, Muhammad Kifli said.

“We will issue fines on the spot. We instruct all drivers to settle all their fines immediately,” he added. 

The enforcement is in line with Section 66H(7) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which makes it an offence to drive a foreign-registered motor vehicle into or within Malaysia without a valid permit.

Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in June that Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia without a valid VEP will face a RM300 compound fine from Jul 1.

He had said that errant motorists will have to pay the fines and register for the VEP before they are allowed to leave Malaysia.

CNA is checking with JPJ on the fines paid by the 1,489 drivers, as based on the total fines of RM445,800 cited by the department, this equates to 1,486 motorists being fined RM300 each.&nbs...