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Straits Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Malaysia to begin VEP enforcement for Singapore vehicles from July 1
The announcement comes eight years after the plan was first mooted in 2017 and implementation of the system was shelved twice, in 2019 and again in 2020. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia will begin enforcement action on Singapore-registered vehicles entering the country without a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) from July 1, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on June 4. The an nouncement comes eight years after the plan was first mooted in 2017 and implementation of the system was shelved twice, in 2019 and again in 2020. Mr Loke said ample time had been given since May 2024 for foreign-registered, private vehicles to register for the VEP system before entering Malaysia by land from Singapore. If found without a valid VEP, drivers of non-Malaysian registered vehicles will receive a compound fine of RM300 (S$91). 'Foreign vehicle owners issued with a summons for not having a valid VEP must settle the fine before exiting Malaysia,' he told a press conference at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya. And they must also register for VEP before leaving the country. Mr Loke said 231,018 Singapore -registered private individually owned vehicles have signed up for VEP, with 15 per cent yet to activate the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. A further 2,660 private company vehicles have been issued the tags. Mr Loke had announced in May 2024 that foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore must have a VEP tag starting from Oct 1 that year. A similiar VEP system is being planned for foreign-registered vehicles entering from southern Thailand. But on Oct 4, he had said that enforcement action against motorists without a VEP had yet to begin and those without the tag would only be given a warning upon exiting Malaysia, reminding them to apply for the permit. The RFID tag allows Malaysian authorities to identify foreign-registered vehicles on the country's roads and to track if there are any outstanding fines for traffic offences, which must be settled before they exit the country. Lu Wei Hoong is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in transport and politics. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Fighting deepfakes with content ‘nutrition labels'
Mr Andy Parsons, senior director of content authenticity at Adobe, was in Singapore in May to meet officials from the Republic's Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE - There may come a time when 'nutrition labels' for online content become mainstream, just as they are for packaged food. It seems a bold vision and a tall order. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car review: Lotus Emira is a daily sports car
The Lotus Emira Turbo SE can be mistaken for being a million-dollar exotic sports car. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – The Lotus Emira looks like a mini Lamborghini and, in its latest Turbo SE guise, is even faster than an Italian supercar. Car enthusiasts of a certain age may find the 'Turbo SE' name familiar, with its distinctly 1980s ring. Famously, American actor Richard Gere's character in the 1990 movie Pretty Woman was terrible at driving the Esprit Turbo SE, clumsily crunching the manual gearbox. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Straits Times
Muslims in Singapore to celebrate Hari Raya Haji on June 7: Mufti
Hari Raya Haji, also known as Eid Al-Adha or the Great Day of Sacrifice, marks the end of the haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – Muslims in Singapore will celebrate Hari Raya Haji on June 7 , the country's top Islamic leader announced on May 27 . Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir , the Mufti of Singapore , said in a media statement that the month of Zulhijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, will begin on May 29. Astronomical calculations showed that the crescent moon was not visible after sunset on May 27, and this meant that May 28 will be the final day of the current month, Zulkaedah. Hari Raya Haji, also known as Eid Al-Adha or the Great Day of Sacrifice, is celebrated on the 10th day of Zulhijjah and marks the end of the haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Hari Raya Haji will fall on June 7 in Singapore . Wishing all Muslims in Singapore a blessed month and Hari Raya Haji ahead, Dr Nazirudin also said: 'Let us take this opportunity during the sacred days of this holy month to increase our worship and prayers for the safety of the haj pilgrims and for all those who are oppressed, especially in Gaza, Palestine.' Some 900 Singaporean pilgrims will be travelling to Mecca to perform the haj in 2025, which takes place in the summer, similar to in 2024. Singapore has been allocated 900 slots for haj pilgrims annually since 2018, although no pilgrims travelled in 2020 and 2021 owing to the Covid pandemic. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Straits Times
CCK, Bukit Gombak residents try firefighting, first aid to enhance resilience during emergencies
Residents trying to put out a fire at Chua Chu Kang GRC and Bukit Gombak SMC's Community Resilience Day event on May 25. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – As residents living near community sports facility The Arena @ Keat Hong were heading to breakfast or their Sunday grocery shopping on May 25, a 'scuffle' broke out between two men. The altercation left one person with an injured arm, while the other started to go into cardiac arrest. But before the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the police could arrive on the scene, two civilian responders from the People's Association Community Emergency Response Team (PA CERT ) swooped in to help after spotting the commotion. One of the PA CERT responders provided first aid to the man with the injured arm, while the other performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the other party. Another two civilian responders, who were alerted to the incident via SCDF's myResponder app, located the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) and applied it to the man. The incident was part of a simulation at Chua Chu Kang GRC and Bukit Gombak SMC's Community Resilience Day event on May 25 that showed how civilians can work together with uniformed personnel in responding to emergencies. PA CERT members are trained in performing CPR and using AEDs. Formed in 2004, PA CERT is a group of volunteers under the PA Community Emergency and Engagement Committees that seeks to raise crisis preparedness in the community, respond to emergencies and help the community in the recovery process. Looking out for one another and being vigilant is a responsibility that must be shared by everyone in the community, said Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng at the event. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng performing CPR on a mannequin at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Dr Tan was joined by other Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs, which includes Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim – both newly minted political office-holders – and Dr Choo Pei Ling. 'Anytime someone collapses, whether it's because of a cardiac arrest, because of a stroke, the brain needs oxygen, and you only have about four minutes to respond before the brain suffers damage because of the lack of oxygen,' said Dr Tan. Making reference to the simulation, he added: 'As you can see from our first responders, how they very quickly assess the person who is lying down, and they started CPR almost immediately, that is crucial, because then it ensures that the blood continues to be pumped to the brain.' (From right) Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Choo Pei Ling and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG At the event, some 1,500 residents not only tried performing basic first aid and CPR, but also experienced putting out a fire at a booth at The Arena by the SCDF that drew a long queue of enthusiastic children. Another favourite was a booth by the Republic of Singapore Air Force that featured interactive simulators. Mr Leow Foo Kay, 51, said he took his seven-year-old son, who dreams of being a pilot, to the event to show him different ways of contributing to the community. 'I hope that events like these will inspire him to pick up lifesaving skills to help others in the future,' said Mr Leow, who works in finance. Children dressed up as police officers and firefighters at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Wong Yang is a journalist at The Straits Times, covering housing, property, land use and community stories. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
