Over 5,000 M’sia Motorbikes Have Been Sent Back to JB in the Last 5 Months

Every day a Malaysian vehicle stays in Singapore, the owner has to pay a certain amount of money to the Singapore government.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), all foreign-registered vehicles in Singapore must pay Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fees of $4 per day (motorcycles) or $35 per day (cars).

And that’s not even including the parking fees, maintenance fees and more.

Seeing as the Singapore-Malaysia borders aren’t opening soon, Malaysian vehicle owners have been sending their vehicles back to their home country while they stayed here to work.

Over 5,000 M’sia Motorbikes Have Been Sent Back to JB in the Last 5 Months

According to Shin Min Daily News (SMDN), over 5,000 Malaysia motorbikes have been sent back to JB and apparently, this has been happening since May 2020.

One service provider spoken to says his company has been sending motorcycles back to JB since June 2020 and, to date, has sent over 3,000 motorcycles back.

On a good day, he could get as many as 120 motorcycles to send back.

Pointing out the costs that go into keeping a Malaysia motorcycle in Singapore, such as parking fees, maintenance, the $4/day VEP and more, many owners, he said, are temporarily giving up their vehicles to give themselves some breathing room.

Another company which provides “cross-country” (literally) motorcycle-towing services said he’s sent back around 2,000 motorcycles now.

Some of the owners, he said, even sold their vehicles promptly once they’re sent back to their home country.

Not An Easy Task

With Covid-19, things that used to be simple became complicated, including travelling to Johor Bahru.

Once they’ve obtained the permit to let their vehicle into Malaysia, the company will send their driver for a check-up before he can drive over the borders.

They also have to be careful and check that the motorcycles they’re towing have no unpaid payments pending, or is outfitted with the wrong number plate (read: ghost motorcycles).

If not, the entire batch of motorcycles might be confiscated.

A Lucrative Business

Pre-Covid-19, there could be three to ten orders to tow vehicles back into Malaysia.

Now, during Covid-19, it’s easily ten times, or more, of that number every day.

Each motorcycle costs $80 to $150 to be sent back to Malaysia.

That means if a company charges at $80, and there are 50 motorcycles to send back each day, you’re looking at a profit of $4,000.

Per day.

When Will Borders Reopen?

If you’re hoping the answer is “soon”, you’ll be disappointed.

Previously, Singapore was hoping that Malaysia will reopen borders while Malaysia’s adamant on not doing so until things are safe again.

Then, Singapore was experiencing hundreds of new cases daily.

Now, however, it’s the opposite.

According to The Straits Times, Johor MCA Government Affairs coordinating chairman Michael Tay has unveiled the ultimatum:

Should Covid-19 cases in Johor spike, Singapore would not reopen the two land checkpoints.

“We have been declared a red zone. This is not good, especially when we are looking at reopening the border for workers soon, ” he said.

The declaration was made on Thursday (29 October).

Currently, Johor Bahru’s economy came to a complete standstill after borders slammed shut.

The Johor government tried to reignite hopes for its people by tabling a special plan to reopen borders but were soon sidetracked by their latest wave of Covid-19 infections.

You can read more about it here.