Asia (Page 1,725)

After receiving feedback from drivers and a flurry of applications received in the last month, Malaysia has made improvements to the process for obtaining a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP ).

Since May 28 when it announced that foreign-registered vehicles entering the country by territory from Singapore may apply VEPs from October 1, the nation has received over 23, 000 programs. &nbsp,

Transportation Minister Anthony Loke stated at a press conference on Monday ( Jul 1 ) that the 23, 649 VEP applications received from May 28 through June 29 outnumbered the 15, 424 applications for the entire year 2023.

For software made in the past month, a total of 6, 120 VEP keywords have been issued and 1, 080 of them have been activated, Mr Loke added.

Numerous drivers have posted on social media about issues registering for VEPs or renewing existing grants for used cars since the announcement on May 28. &nbsp,

Mr. Loke confirmed that as he made changes to the method, problems involving second-hand vehicles have attracted the most complaints to his government.

Instead of visiting a physical counter, those applying for a second-hand vehicle’s VEP can then deregister a previously issued VEP online.

They are all it takes to email us to shift. This is done to address the issue that users of second-hand cars face. They are not required to visit our shop. They simply need to send an email plea deregistration. This is to ease the process”, he said. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Any VEP that has expired for over five years will be instantly deregistered, Mr Loke said.

The registration of the keywords can be done electronically before they expire, he added. &nbsp,” Messages will be sent out to car owners 60 times, 30 days, and 10 times before it expires”, he said.

Since June 28, new features have been added to the VEP website that, he said, will make it simpler to create in via email or visit any counters literally.

To handle the rise in uses, more people have been hired. At the VEP set center, there are now 12 individuals instead of seven, whereas the amount handling email inquiries has increased from five to 15.

Beginning August 1, VEP holders can link their credit or debit cards to their radio frequency identification ( RFID ) tags, which uniquely identify each vehicle. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

“BACKLO G MUST BE CLEARED BEFORE OCT 1”

When asked how long it typically took to receive a badge after signing up electronically, Mr. Loke responded that it typically took three to five days.

” We are trying our best to address the backlog”, he said. We have requested from the business involved to put more resources and make sure all applications are processed within the next few weeks. We need to make sure that all this backlog is cleared before October 1.

Going forward, more improvements will be made. Malaysia will introduce a new open toll payment system ( OPS) that will allow VEP holders to use their credit or debit cards as a substitute for the Touch N Go system that is currently in use.

VEP buyers will need to use their RFID tags to connect to their credit accounts by downloading the MDGS app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Travelers between Singapore and Malaysia can now make burdens and road tax payments through the MDGS application.

The Indonesian government will be able to monitor international automobiles that enter or leave the country and obtain drivers to file summonses before leaving with the implementation of the VEP, which was implemented since 2019 but has not yet been enforced.

According to Mr. Loke, there are about 70 000 cars with VEP tags that have been activated in Singapore.

More than 200 000 motor lorries have registered, but none of their VEP keywords have been activated or installed.

Any unusual motor car without a VEP entering or operating in Malaysia will be subject to legal action starting on October 1. Anyone found guilty of the offence can be fined up to RM2, 000 ( US$ 425 ) or jailed for up to six months.

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A CASE OF MONEY Fraud

Additionally, MPs raised concerns about the multibillion dollar money laundering circumstance, which came to an end next month with the sentences of all ten offenders. &nbsp,

The nine people and one person who were detained in August of this year received sentences of between 13 and 17 months in prison. &nbsp,

Given the feedback from the public regarding the proportion of the words, Pritam Singh, leader of the opposition, inquired what the Ministry for Home Affairs ‘ analysis of the anti-money laundering laws in Singapore is. &nbsp,

MP Tan Wu Meng ( PAP-Jurong ) questioned whether the Inter-Ministerial Committee would take into account and examine how potential offenders evaluate the range of current sentencing precedents when recommending any tightening of laws and enforcement to stop criminal exploitation. &nbsp,

He even asked whether the council, &nbsp, which was established to examine Singapore’s anti- money laundering regime, may acquire recommending an enhancement of detection, investigation and sentencing to prevent Singapore’s stature as a reputed financial centre.

MP Sylvia Lim ( WP- Aljunied ) also posed a query about the factors that are taken into account when deciding which nation to deport offenders after serving their sentences.

CHOA CHU KANG WATERWORKS INCIDENT

Additionally, two MPs questioned a May 2015 affair at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks where two laborers died from breathing poisonous gas.

MP Poh Li San ( PAP- Sembawang ) asked for the initial findings from the investigations, as well as the cause of the gas leak and the lessons learnt from the incident.

MP Melvin Yong ( PAP- Radin Mas ) wanted to know about the precautions being taken at all PUB’s waterworks to protect workers from the risk of exposure to toxic gases and chemicals.

Another inquiries made by MPs include Singapore’s response to the recognition of Palestine as a condition.

Two Bills – the Anti- Money Laundering and Other Matters Bill and the Land Surveyors ( Amendment ) Bill – are scheduled to be introduced. A second checking of three additional Charges is scheduled. &nbsp,

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From Monday ( July 1 ), more coffee shops in Singapore will start accepting Community Development Council ( CDC ) vouchers and providing affordable meals. &nbsp,

By the end of the month, 330 coffee shops in Housing and Development Board ( HDB) estates will offer residents these affordable food options. &nbsp,

This figure includes 180 coffee shops under nine private chain operators, said HDB and&nbsp, Enterprise Singapore ( EnterpriseSG) in a joint press release.

Beginning on Monday, the eateries did gradually start offering cheap fare and accepting CDC vouchers, expanding the budget food initiative beyond rental HDB coffee shops. &nbsp,

The secret espresso shop stores that have come on board are Badaling, Broadway, De Tian, Chang Cheng, FoodFare Kopitiam, Kimly, Kim San Leng, Koufu and Select.

Of the 180 coffee retailers, 120 are privately owned, forming close to 30 per cent of the privately owned coffee shops in HDB lands.

The remaining 60 are rented coffee shops that will now provide deliberately affordable meals prior to their contract renewal. &nbsp,

Cheap OPTIONS

The budget food program, announced in March 2023, aims to give Singaporeans with more inexpensive meal options. &nbsp,

The program requires that all rental HDB coffee shops that are renewing their tenants as of May 2023 to offer at least four affordable meals and two affordable drink choices.

Budget meals include lunch or dinner options that are typically priced at S$ 3.50 ( US$ 2.60 ) and below, as well as drinks priced at S$ 1.20 and below.

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