Singaporean Visitors Return to Johor After Initial Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) Concerns
After a brief slowdown due to uncertainty around the enforcement of Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), Singaporean visitors have begun to return to Johor in increasing numbers. Live camera feeds and apps like Beat The Jam showed significant traffic queues at the Causeway and Second Link in Tuas, with waiting times averaging around 50 minutes throughout the day.
The increase in visitors is a welcome change for Johor businesses, many of which depend on Singaporean patrons. According to Chan Wah Heng, owner of the popular Wah Heng Bak Kut Teh, about 70% of his customers are Singaporeans. “Singaporeans will still come to Johor with or without the VEP. Nothing replaces the many choices of things to do and buy here,” he said.
Gradual Return of Singaporean Shoppers
Over the weekend, reports from The Straits Times and The Star noted a clear uptick in visitor numbers after a relatively quiet start to the implementation of the VEP. On Friday, areas like KSL City Mall were unusually calm, but by Sunday, places such as Jalan Dhoby saw long queues forming in cafés and other popular spots.
Hazeem Esman, a social development officer from Singapore, echoed similar sentiments: “I think Singaporeans will still come to Johor with or without the VEP.”
Business Associations Call for Further Clarity on VEP
Business owners and associations in Johor have raised concerns that uncertainty surrounding the VEP could impact their revenue. Jarod Chia, chairman of the Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) Johor Chapter, stated that while the decrease in visitors is temporary, swift action is needed to prevent long-term effects. He called for better communication to reassure Singaporean drivers.
“The authorities already said they won’t issue any fines for unactivated VEPs, so more must be done to tell Singaporeans not to worry,” said Chan Wah Heng.
Earlier reports indicated that inbound traffic from Singapore had dropped by 20% on the first day of VEP enforcement, but business leaders believe the situation will stabilize as more motorists adapt to the system.
VEP Enforcement: A Long-Delayed Measure
Initially introduced in 2017, the VEP was designed to address issues such as car theft, vehicle cloning, and the collection of outstanding traffic fines from foreign-registered vehicles. However, its full implementation was delayed several times, with the most recent postponement due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, 75,412 Singaporean vehicles have activated their VEP RFID tags, while another 37,246 have yet to activate theirs. Loke has urged all Singaporean motorists to register and activate the RFID tags to comply with the mandatory system.
Since the VEP’s introduction, many Singaporeans have rushed to apply for and collect the RFID tags, leading to a backlog at the three designated collection centres. However, despite initial hiccups, traffic and visitor numbers are gradually returning to normal levels.
Looking Ahead
As Singaporeans adjust to the VEP requirements, Johor businesses are hopeful that visitor numbers will continue to rise. With no fines currently being issued for vehicles without activated VEP tags, the Johor government and business associations are working to ensure clear communication about the new requirements, aiming to restore the flow of visitors as quickly as possible.
