The Transport Minister says Singapore has been charging Malaysian-registered vehicles the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) since 1973.
JOHOR BARU: Putrajaya has denied that the RM20 road charge (RC) imposed on foreign-registered vehicles was discriminatory against Singapore pointing out that the republic had been charging Malaysian cars for the past 44 years, The Star reported.
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Singapore had been charging Malaysian-registered vehicles the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) since 1973, starting with S$10 (RM31.16) and gradually increasing it to S$35 (RM109) currently.
“It is only now that we have introduced the RC of only RM20, which is in line with our efforts to implement the Vehicle Entry Permit,” he said after attending the Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association swearing-in ceremony here last night.
Liow also said there would not be any additional charge on foreign vehicles besides the RC when the VEP was fully implemented by mid-year.
The Star reported that the collection of RC at the two land entry points in Johor – the Causeway and the Second Link in Tuas – took effect in November.
On Jan 9, Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that the republic would match Malaysia’s RM20 RC.
Putrajaya has urged Singapore to reconsider this move.
“We have good ties with the Singapore government. So, I hope that they will reconsider,” Liow was quoted as saying in The Star.
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