The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore has denied reports in the republic's newspapers that restrictions on their off-peak cars (OPCs) have been imposed by the Malaysian authorities from New Year'S Day.
High Commissioner Datuk N. Parameswaran said in a statement Thursday that the government of Malaysia "has no intention of restricting the entry into Malaysia of any OPCs at any time."
He said Malaysia welcomed visitors from Singapore and expressed hope that they would enjoy the various events and attractions during Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
I beg to differ. Singapore's OPCs should not be allowed on Malaysian roads.
The OPC scheme replaced the Weekend Car Scheme on 1 October 1994. The Weekend Car Scheme was introduced when I was residing in Singapore on employment pass. The scheme offers new and and existing car owners the option to save on car registration and road taxes in return for reduced usage of the car.
An OPC can be freely driven on Sundays, public holidays and during the following non-restricted hours:-
> Mondays to Fridays from 7 pm to 7 am. (The OPC cannot be on Singapore roads from 7 am to 7 pm)
> Saturdays and eve of New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas from 3 pm onwards.
If the owner of an OPC need to use his car during the restricted hours, he will need to display a $20 (about RM45) a day licence.
Note: The registration number plates of the OPC are in red. A seal is affixed onto the number plate by the authorised Inspection Centre approved by the Land Transport Authority.
Now, if an OPC is not allowed on Singapore roads, that is during its restricted hours, then why should it be allowed on Malaysian roads?
Normally, the owner on an OPC will drive during the non-restricted hours to Malaysia, sometimes for the whole week and as far as Penang. Then he will return to Singapore during the non-restricted hours to escape from paying $20 per day.
If the car is involved in a fatal road accident in Malaysia, what about the third party insurance coverage?
To my knowledge and I stand to be corrected, insurance companies only provide third party coverage during the non-restricted hours, that is when an OPC is legally allowed on the road. When the OPCs are in Malaysia, most of the time during restricted hours (according to the Singapore OPC Scheme), there is no insurance coverage.
What will happen if the OPC is involved in a fatal accident, involving Malaysians, while being driven on Malaysian roads?
KUDA RANGGI - You can take a horse to (the) water but you can't make it drink.
7 comments:
I fully agree with you !The singaporean have taken us (malaysian Authority) for-a-ride for a long-long time. They choose to have OPC but enter Malaysia during unrestricted hr and travel all over Malaysia without any hindrence either from the police or JPJ. Probably these law-enforcers are not aware the existance of OPC and its conditions. Probably they thought the the red rear number plates are meant for decorative purpose. If these class of vehicle travel during restricted hr then it deem to be travelling without insurance coverage. As we would like the s'porean to visit us especially during VMY2007 , but we must not allow them to flout our laws. Chan kong Choi, pl look into this , don't just attend to those that can benefit you only. YDH Tan Sri Musa Hassan, you should know this issue better because you were KP Johor once.!
I think you should check the facts first before posting then. OPC owners pay the same amount as a non-OPC car owners of the same car type, so how can their insurance coverage be any lessor? Being a blogger, we have to be responsible for what we say - check the facts before posting any "assumed facts", as some readers will read this as a fact!
For what ever reasons, if a car or vehicle is not allowed on Singapore roads, then it should not be allowed on Malaysian roads.
OPC owners have to pay to drive during peak hours and they should not be allowed to drive "free of charge" on Malaysian roads.
I am fully aware of this scheme, formerly known as week-end cars. I resided in Singapore, to be precise at Chancery Hill Road, for some five years in the 1990s.
I agreed with what "Anonymous" has mentioned, OPC owners have to pay the same insurance premium as other cars owners and most of them are covered with comprehensive package instead of third party insurance (as required by finance company). Check the facts before posting.... To be fair, are we as Malaysians suppose to buy a COE before we drive in?
You don't understand, do you? You need to bid for COE if you wish to buy a car in Singapore. You must register the car with the ROV (the authority when I was residing in Singapore, it could be a different name now). Malaysians who wish to drive in Singapore with their Malaysian registered car, they have to pay at the checkpoint, excluding on specific hours during the week end.
When I was on employment pass and resided in Singapore, I was issued with the VEP by the ROV on a six-month basis. I hope you know whatr a VEP is.
I repeat, my point is if a Singapore registered OPC car is not allowed on Singapore roads on certain hours of the day, then it should not be allowed on Malaysian roads?
I am not sure any one these bloggers did a clearer analysis; Malaysia cars are sold cheaper, so should Singapore charge them the difference when driving into Singapore? The insurance is the SAME if not, BETTER (depends on what insurance policy you're getting) as compared to a normal car so what is this difference in coverage all about? The policy implemented in Singapore for OPC car is of course, to reduce the number of cars on the road and good for those families who only use occasionally. If Malaysia implements OPC too, that will be GREAT!
For me, I totally not agree to stop OPC car in Malaysia.
Singapore road tax are really expensive. Proton Wira 1.5 with Singapore OPC plate paid S$77 road tax but Malaysia is RM90 road tax. They paid for using both Singaporean roads and Malaysian roads. That's why Singapore road tax so expensive. Otherwise Malaysian car must imposed OPC with Red background with Black Text(My Invention). To match with Singapore.
To Anonymous
Malaysian car want to enter Singapore must registered Autopass to enter Singapore.
Post a Comment