The new information counter for drivers in Singapore to enquire about Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) quietly began operations on Monday without much fanfare. TCSens, the vendor appointed by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) to handle queries from Singapore drivers, did not make a public announcement about the location of the office in Woodlands. CNA first learned of the office’s location from a staff member at TCSens’ office in Johor’s Danga Bay. The office, located at 186 Woodlands Industrial Park E5, was empty when CNA arrived, with no drivers waiting outside or signs indicating it was the VEP information centre. However, the building’s board listed the third-floor unit as “MY VEP PTE LTD”.
Earlier this month, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the opening of a VEP information counter in Woodlands to assist drivers with their queries. The counter, operated by a Singapore firm in collaboration with TCSens, opened on Monday with staff members arriving at 8.47am to set up operations. Inside the office, two rows of chairs, six information counters, and a TV screen were visible, but no drivers were present during the first hour of operation. At around 10.20am, a driver arrived at the office to enquire about his VEP application, mentioning that he only knew about the office’s address from a friend who visited TCSens’ Johor Bahru office and asked about the opening of the Singapore office.
Mr Jackson Tan, a private-hire driver, shared his experience with CNA, stating that even on the Malaysia side, only limited information about the office’s location was being provided. The office manager, Mr Ng Poh Heng, clarified that the office is strictly an “enquiry centre” to provide guidance on the requirements for Singaporeans applying for the VEP online to enter Malaysia. This new centre aims to make it easier for Singaporeans to obtain information and address issues related to their VEP application without having to travel all the way to Johor Bahru. However, drivers are not able to install or collect their RFID tag at the office.
Overall, the introduction of the VEP information centre in Woodlands aims to streamline the process for Singaporean drivers applying for the VEP to enter Malaysia. By providing a dedicated space for enquiries and guidance, it helps to alleviate the need for drivers to travel to Johor Bahru for these purposes. Despite the lack of public announcement about the office’s exact location, drivers like Mr Jackson Tan have been able to find the office based on word-of-mouth information from friends and staff at TCSens’ Johor Bahru office. The office manager, Mr Ng Poh Heng, emphasizes that the primary purpose of the office is to assist with enquiries related to VEP applications, rather than handling the installation or collection of RFID tags.
