JOHOR BARU, Feb 10 — Local daily The Star reported today that Malaysian-registered vehicles have five more months to comply with a new ruling by the Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) on smoke emission failing which they will be barred from entering the republic.

Datuk Ayub Rahmat, who is the state health and environment executive councillor, said the NEA’s ruling had taken effect on January 1, but Singaporean authorities have decided to extend the deadline to July 1, according to The Star.

Under the ruling, the permissible level of black smoke emitted from diesel-powered vehicles in the republic has been reduced from 50 Hartridge Smoke Units (HSU) to 40 HSU.

“If our vehicles fail the HSU level, they will receive compounds from the authorities there,” he said at the Skudai Toll Plaza (southbound) today.

The daily also reported Ayub as saying that last year, 213 Malaysian lorries and buses had been barred from entering Singapore and forced to return to Johor when they were found to be emitting smoke beyond the permissible level.

“On the average there are 4,000 lorries and buses Johor entering Singapore daily and the figure (213) is quite small but it should not be a reason not to comply with the ruling,’’ he said.

Ayub clarified that first time offenders would be slapped with S$150 (RM394) fines while second and third time offenders would face fines of S$200 and S$300 respectively, according to The Star.