JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 6 — The number of foreign vehicles using the land crossings between Malaysia and Singapore via the Johor Causeway and the Second Link has returned to normal following the enforcement of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), which is being done in stages since Tuesday (October 1).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said there was a drop in the number of vehicles on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 2), but the situation has returned to normal after the government provided assurances that no summonses will be issued to vehicles that have yet to install VEPs.
"On October 1 and October 2, we had some reduction of cars because people were worried, but on October 3, I went down and gave assurances that in the first phase, we only give reminders.
"For now we will not set a specific period of time (for not issuing summonses) because if the time period is too long, people will wait till the last minute to register,” he told the press after officiating the Johor DAP convention today, which was attended by Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong.
Loke also suggested that VEP vendors increase registration locations to speed up applications and avoid congestion.
An estimated 400,000 travellers ply the land crossings on buses, cars and motorcycles daily.
Meanwhile, during his speech at the conference, Loke said the container operations at the Tanjung Langsat Port will spur Johor to grow into the largest economic power in the country, as the project would make Johor the only state in Peninsular Malaysia with three container ports.
News reports have indicated that Johor Corporation, via its subsidiary JLand Group, officially launched container operations in the port on Friday (October 4).
— Bernama
