Crossing the border: People seen boarding a Malaysian-registered taxi, which is only allowed to pick up and send passengers to Singapore’s Ban San Street taxi stand. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: The blitz on illegal transport services on both sides of the Causeway has spooked touts who had been earning good money offering unauthorised ride-hailing services between Johor Baru and Singapore.
These touts, who operate using luxury multi-purpose vehicles costing more than RM500,000 each, are believed to earn between S$500 (RM1,650) and S$1,000 (RM3,300) each day.
But since the crackdown by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) from Aug 5, these touts, who would usually hang around the Larkin Sentral Terminal canvassing for passengers, have gone into hiding.
The Singaporean operation had targeted Malaysian-registered private vehicles.
Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) started a similar operation on Singaporean vehicles, beginning Aug 9.
Such operations are good news for licensed Malaysian cross-border taxi service drivers such as Jasmani Yasmi, 51.
He hopes the LTA will continue with the action against the touts.
Malaysian and Singaporean licensed taxi service drivers have been complaining about the touting problem for years, he said.
Jasmani, who has been driving the Johor Baru-Singapore taxi route for 15 years, claimed that no strict action was taken by the authorities against these illegal operators.
“The authorities should also fine passengers of the illegal ride-hailing for using the service despite knowing it is not licensed,” he added.
Presently, Singapore-registered taxis plying the route are allowed to ferry passengers from the Larkin Sentral Terminal to other parts of Singapore.
On the other hand, Malaysian taxis are only allowed to carry passengers from the terminal to the Ban San Street taxi stand in Singapore, near the Queen Street Bus Terminal.
Another driver Rosli Ali, 60, said more passengers have been using the licensed cross-border service following the crackdown.
“Previously, passengers, especially Singaporeans, preferred the illegal ride-hailing to go back to Singapore,’’ he said.
Rosli said the illegal operators would use MPVs with six to 11 seats, making it popular for families or groups, unlike licensed cross-border taxis using sedans.
Prior to the crackdown, he said Malaysian touts could be seen at the Ban San Street taxi stand looking for passengers to Johor Baru.
Meanwhile, a Wisma Putra official urged all Malaysian registered vehicles entering Singapore to adhere to the island republic’s road transport regulations to avoid unnecessary issues including the detention of their vehicles.
The official said this was particularly important as Singapore authorities were clamping down on illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and across the border with Malaysia.
The official hoped the LTA would carry out a detailed investigation and target the illegal e-hailing operations, and not Malaysians who carpool to work in Singapore using MPVs.
He also said it was important for Malaysian vehicles to have the necessary insurance when they drive in Singapore.
It was reported that 19 drivers were caught offering illegal ride-hailing services between Johor and Singapore on Aug 5.
They were nabbed during a joint-operation by the LTA and the Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
According to LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022. Their foreign-registered vehicles were impounded.
