Automotive expert Muhd Raden Anwar – who is also chief executive officer for one of Malaysia’s biggest car rental players Wahdah – told CNA that it would be “logical” for the government to enforce fines against Singapore motorists “only when” almost all the VEP applications have been completed and their tags activated.
“It would not be fair if the government enforces the payment of fines when many Singapore drivers are still facing issues getting their (RFID) tags and installing them,” he added.
However, Muhd Raden acknowledged that the VEP was a tool to ensure the government could track foreign drivers who have outstanding fines, and that implementing the system was a positive move.
“It’s a way to also track data of foreign vehicles that enter the country and this can help (with) urban planning,” he added.
Loke had previously said that as of Sep 30, Malaysia has issued 112,658 RFID tags to drivers, of which 75,412 have been activated.
The VEP was first announced in 2017 with the aim of tackling car theft and cloning syndicates, and to prevent vehicles from leaving the country without paying fines for traffic offences.
Full enforcement was initially set for 2019 but it was delayed multiple times.
