Passengers waiting for cross-border taxis at the Larkin Sentral Terminal in Johor Baru.
DEMAND for cross-border taxi services between Malaysia and Singapore remains encouraging despite an increase in fares on the Singapore side.
Singaporean taxi driver Sukhdev Singh said generally, passengers going to Johor Baru were willing to pay the new rates.
“Most of them are families or those travelling in groups of four, so taking a taxi is more convenient,’’ he said when met at Larkin Sentral Terminal in Jalan Garuda, Johor Baru.
The 59-year-old said it would be a hassle for those travelling with small children and luggage to take a bus from Singapore to Johor Baru or vice versa.
“They have to alight from the bus to have their passports and luggage inspected by Immigration and Customs on the Singapore and Malaysia sides,” said Sukhdev, who has been a taxi driver since 2003.
Another Singaporean taxi driver, Irmanshah Azir, 38, said the last fare hike for the Singapore-Johor Baru taxi service was some 10 years ago.
“So far, the number of people taking cross-border taxis is still encouraging, especially among regulars,” he said.
Singaporean taxi drivers Irmansah (left) and Sukhdev say people are willing to pay for a taxi ride across the border because of the convenience offered.
Irmanshah said demand for cross-border taxis had returned to normal when services resumed on May 1 after operations were suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But he said the number of Singapore-registered taxis plying the republic and Johor Baru had declined from about 100 before the Covid-19 pandemic to 60 now.
“Peak hours are between 6am and 9.30am on weekdays, and passengers are mostly Singaporeans coming to Johor Baru.
“On weekends and public holidays, we start as early as 5am until midnight,’’ said Irmanshah, who has been driving a taxi for about eight years.
Persatuan Pemilik dan Pemandu Teksi Cab Majlis Bandaraya Johor Baru dan Singapura-Johor Baru secretary Mohd Drus Cheng said there were about 165 Malaysia-registered taxis offering the cross-border service.
He said the association managed cross-border taxi services on the Malaysian side.
“Another 30 taxi drivers are waiting for approval from the Singapore authorities.
“Hopefully, they can start by the end of the month,” said Mohd Drus.
He said about half of taxi passengers using the service were locals working in Singapore while the rest were a mix of Malaysian and foreign tourists visiting Singapore.
The taxi fare from Ban San Street Taxi Terminal in Rochor, Singapore to Larkin Sentral Terminal was raised on July 11 from S$12 (RM38.40) to S$15 (RM48) per person.
The taxi fare from Changi Airport and Seletar Airport in Singapore to Johor Baru is now S$120 (RM389) from S$60 (RM192) previously.
Passengers taking Singapore-registered taxis from other parts of the island republic other than Ban San Street Terminal to Larkin Sentral Terminal have to pay S$80 (RM256), compared to S$60 (RM192) previously.
The fare for Singapore-registered taxis from Larkin Sentral Terminal to other locations there apart from Ban San Street Terminal has been increased to S$60 (RM192) from S$55 (RM176) or S$70 (RM224) per taxi for those booking in advance.
The fare between Larkin Sentral Terminal and Ban San Street Terminal for Singapore-registered taxis has been fixed at RM120 (S$37.50).
