Would my business be affected if I renounced my PR status?

[an6tzz]

I am a Malaysian holding SPR status. I started up a sole proprietor business doing media/ animation for about a year now.

Since my business model allows me to work from anywhere in the world therefore I am currently not residing in Singapore spending >95% of my time in Malaysia.

My PR status is infact now giving me problems:

Since SPR are not allowed to drive foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore. My PR status is now putting me in disadvantages - At times I need to bring my 80 year old father into Singapore for medical purposes or to meet his son (my brother is now Singaporean), or to meet customers on tight schedule.

I can't afford and it won't be cost effective/convenient for me to buy a Singapore car while most of the time the car will only be used oversea.
If I were to take public transport it will be inconvenient as buses in Malaysia are not frequent during off-peak hours. Often I need to offset 2.5 hours in advance in case the bus comes 1 hour later. It is also nearly impossible for me to respond to any urgent cases if I am not allowed to drive M'sian cars in Singapore.

I am now trying to apply for authorization from LTA (to drive foreign car in SG) needless to say it is nearly impossible for them to approve - I am thinking if I should renounce my PR status if it doesn't affect much on my registered busienss.

Or I would appreciate if you may share with me any better solution on this end. Thanks a lot.

[Mad Scientist]

Your issues is two fold.

1. Your PR does not expires. Your Re-entry permit does. Hence if you are not able to submit the last 3 years of your income tax or company tax and not able to proof contribution to CPF. Your REP will not be renewed.
If you cannot proof living here in SG , your REP will expires.

2. To do business in SG , you need to be a PR/local or having employment pass under MOM guideline. If your REP expires, how are you going to run your business as it is illegal to run a business or working without a valid pass.

3. For your other Problem on using foreign car, if you have a registered company in Malaysia , you can apply for free entry thru LTA . The approval is subject to its criteria . I have posted the doc before for QRM. You have to go to the search button to look for it. It is at the right hand corner under the profile link

[an6tzz]

Hi MS, thanks a lot for the information.

After digesting the information from you, it seemed like I may follow the following steps - please correct me if I'm wrong:

1. Wait for LTA to approve/ disapprove my request to drive in Singapore.
1.a. If it approves, no changes will be made as my issue is resolved

2. If LTA reject my application:
2.a. I need to continue taking public transport etc.
2.b. Hire a driver
2.c. If the situation is unbearable, renounce PR so I can drive in freely.

3. If I renounce PR, as you mentioned, my business will be affected.
3.a. Not closing down the business and try to get Entry Pass;
3.b. If the above doesn't work, I will have to close down the business in Singapore;
3.b. Set up another company in Malaysia and continue to serve my customers with the new setup. Business as usual, plus I can drive in freely. (+ Entering Casino at no charges:o )

4. MANY years later, If my business failed, and need to come back to Singapore to work...
4.a. Since my CPF is intact, I can try to apply for PR again
4.b. Else any work pass will do

[Mad Scientist]

4. MANY years later, If my business failed, and need to come back to Singapore to work...
4.a. Since my CPF is intact, I can try to apply for PR again
4.b. Else any work pass will do

You do need to hire a driver. Taxis from Larkin Bus Station and at JB near City Square. (I forgot the name of the place) can drive to Singapore.
The pay for the whole cab I think cost only $40 or RM 50 depending on which way you commute. The taxis that drives from Singapore to JB will station at Rochor.
It will not cost you an arm and a leg if it going to be once a month compare to all your contingency plan

I am not sure whether you will get your PR in years to come once renounce as immigration law might change for better or worse. EP Passes will be a better bet unless you have huge sum of money to invest like $5 million in Singapore then your application will be a shoe in.

[ksl]

A taxi or a driver is your best bet! You would be silly to give up your PR could be more costly if you became ill!

[revhappy]

A taxi or a driver is your best bet! You would be silly to give up your PR could be more costly if you became ill!

+1 to that. I can't believe you want to give up your SPR just because it will be expensive to own a car in Singapore.

Have you consider riding a motorcycle? Its really cheap to own one here. Riding is much more fun and you dont get stuck in traffic like in a car. I am not sure where you reside in MY, if it is JB then Motorcycle is perfect.

Or else have you considered an OPC plate car? I believe you can get a used OPC car for quite cheap like 20-30K SGD. I also believe MY doesn't care whether you ride a OPC car or a COE car into their territory. The 5% of time that you travel in SG you can use the e-day license.

If you cant afford a car and riding is too "low class" for you then I dont know what to say, just bad luck a great opportunity missed due to your inflexibility. Think about it

[Mad Scientist]

Since SPR are not allowed to drive foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore. My PR status is now putting me in disadvantages - At times I need to bring my 80 year old father into Singapore for medical purposes or to meet his son (my brother is now Singaporean), or to meet customers on tight schedule.

@revhappy

Would you want to pillion your 80 year old father on a motorcycle crossing the Woodlands Causeway for medical check up ??

[sundaymorningstaple]

[revhappy]

Since SPR are not allowed to drive foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore. My PR status is now putting me in disadvantages - At times I need to bring my 80 year old father into Singapore for medical purposes or to meet his son (my brother is now Singaporean), or to meet customers on tight schedule.

@revhappy

Would you want to pillion your 80 year old father on a motorcycle crossing the Woodlands Causeway for medical check up ??

Ofcourse not. The op mentioned at times he needs to bring his father for medical checkup. For all we know the "at times" could just be as rare once in 6 months during which time he can use taxi, but for sudden client visits the bike can be used. The cost of owning a motorcycle here is peanuts compared to a car, so its not additional for cost for him.

[Mad Scientist]

Ofcourse not. The op mentioned at times he needs to bring his father for medical checkup. For all we know the "at times" could just be as rare once in 6 months during which time he can use taxi, but for sudden client visits the bike can be used. The cost of owning a motorcycle here is peanuts compared to a car, so its not additional for cost for him.

Yeah if you own it in Singapore but as you and I know going thru both customs even at times peak or non peak hours with all those Malaysian motorcylists approx 20K a day either way can be very challenging. Or are you wanting to sell your motorcycle to him

BTW your signature line needs to be corrected as I am not sure what are you trying to say

Bila disitu ada kemauan disitu ada lebuhraya means

When there is a will there will be highway. Is this what you want to say ?
Looks funny though

Or

Dimana ada kemahuan disana ada kemajuan means

Where there is a will , there is progress

OR

Dimana ada jalan disana ada lebuhraya

If there is a road it will lead to a highway

So which is which? I am an Indonesian btw so I pretty much understand Malay

[revhappy]

Ofcourse not. The op mentioned at times he needs to bring his father for medical checkup. For all we know the "at times" could just be as rare once in 6 months during which time he can use taxi, but for sudden client visits the bike can be used. The cost of owning a motorcycle here is peanuts compared to a car, so its not additional for cost for him.

Yeah if you own it in Singapore but as you and I know going thru both customs even at times peak or non peak hours with all those Malaysian motorcylists approx 20K a day either way can be very challenging. Or are you wanting to sell your motorcycle to him

During Peak hours I agree, its a nightmare to go accross the causeway, but outside the peak hours its a breeze. I know it because my bike drinks only Malaysian fuel My bike has an 18 Ltrs tank and its delivers close to 50 kms/Ltr and I ride about 50 kms a day. So I top up my tank in JB once every 3 weeks.

I am going to keep my motorcycle as long as I am in Singapore. I shudder the very thought of using public transport for going from AMK to Changi Business Park. It would take me a close to 1 hour and 10 mins. On my bike its just 20 mins cruise over the TPE

BTW your signature line needs to be corrected as I am not sure what are you trying to say

Bila disitu ada kemauan disitu ada lebuhraya means

When there is a will there will be highway. Is this what you want to say ?
Looks funny though

Or

Dimana ada kemahuan disana ada kemajuan means

Where there is a will , there is progress

OR

Dimana ada jalan disana ada lebuhraya

If there is a road it will lead to a highway

So which is which? I am an Indonesian btw so I pretty much understand Malay



Google translate cheated me, then
I intended to say "Where there is a will there is a highway"

[Saint]

During Peak hours I agree, its a nightmare to go accross the causeway, but outside the peak hours its a breeze. I know it because my bike drinks only Malaysian fuel My bike has an 18 Ltrs tank and its delivers close to 50 kms/Ltr and I ride about 50 kms a day. So I top up my tank in JB once every 3 weeks.

That could be one expensive gamble if/when you get caught!

[Mad Scientist]

Google translate cheated me, then
I intended to say "Where there is a will there is a highway"

[/quote]

Again it sounds funny by your statement

It means

Dimana ada kemahuan disitu ada lebuhraya

No Malay phrase goes that way. I am laughing till my jaw bones hurts

It should sound this way

Dimana ada kemahuan disitu ada kejayaan

When there is a will there will be success

[revhappy]

During Peak hours I agree, its a nightmare to go accross the causeway, but outside the peak hours its a breeze. I know it because my bike drinks only Malaysian fuel My bike has an 18 Ltrs tank and its delivers close to 50 kms/Ltr and I ride about 50 kms a day. So I top up my tank in JB once every 3 weeks.

That could be one expensive gamble if/when you get caught!

No lah, bro, Malaysia petrol top up can. The rule for cars is not to enter MY with less than 3/4th tank full. For bikes no such rule.

MY govt is smart they realized SG motorists are thriving on their subsidised fuel, so from Aug last year they are subsidizing the price of RON 95 but RON98 is free float according to crude oil price. Rite now, RON 95 = RM 1.90 and RON 98 = RM 2.7.

[an6tzz]

Hey guys I truly appreciate the helps and information you provided.

I am currently still waiting for re-appeal of having the authority to drive in Singapore. I got 1st reply from them telling me what I know, Singaporean/Pr can't drive etc.. but added that if I can share more detail, they will be able to review my case.

So now I am still at step 1.

Btw, I stay near Tuas Checkpoint - I checked once on Taxi driving into Singapore, it's a whopping 270 ringgit (120SGD) per trip. (Not round trip)

Nasty nasty...