Unauthorized ride-hailing services between Malaysia’s Johor Baru and Singapore have made a comeback, with operators reportedly increasing their prices after going underground a few months ago to evade law enforcement. These touts were once commonly seen at Larkin Sentral, a major bus terminal in Johor Bahru that serves as a gateway to Singapore. Before their temporary disappearance, they were known for generating significant daily income, earning up to RM3,300 (US$780) per day by offering illegal cross-border trips using high-value multi-purpose vehicles worth over RM500,000 each.
Now, the unauthorized operators have returned to the same location but are operating under different strategies, according to reports from The Star. Safarudin Abu Bakar, a 44-year-old licensed taxi driver who has been serving the Johor Bahru–Singapore route for 13 years, shared insights with the Malaysian newspaper. He mentioned that the touts have shifted to using sedans to avoid detection by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). Additionally, the fare per passenger has increased from S$30 to S$35 (US$26.8).
Vehicles form a long queue to enter Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore on March 17, 2020 from across the causeway of the southern Malaysian state of Johor. Photo by AFP
Johor Bahru is located just across the border from Singapore and is connected via the Johor–Singapore Causeway, which sees heavy daily traffic. Many Malaysians commute to work in Singapore, while Singaporeans often cross the border for cheaper goods and services. However, only a limited number of licensed taxis from both countries are permitted to offer cross-border services, and these are restricted to specific pickup and drop-off points.
Singapore taxis are allowed to operate only from Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru, while Malaysian taxis can only serve Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore. Unauthorized operators, however, take passengers across the border and provide point-to-point services within Singapore before returning them to Johor Bahru. This practice is illegal and can result in fines of up to S$3,000, jail terms of up to six months, or both. Authorities may also confiscate the vehicles used in such operations.
In recent months, both Singapore and Malaysia have intensified efforts to combat illegal cross-border ride-hailing. Since July, the LTA has seized 126 foreign-registered vehicles for engaging in such activities. Sun Xueling, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Transport, highlighted this in a Facebook post, emphasizing that the practice puts passengers at risk and negatively affects the livelihoods of licensed drivers. She also mentioned that discussions are ongoing between the two countries to allow Malaysian taxis to drop passengers anywhere in Singapore and vice versa.
Meanwhile, several transport companies have introduced online booking systems for cross-border taxi services. Companies like Singapore’s ComfortDelGro and Strides Premier, as well as Malaysia’s Kummute, now offer such options. In addition to taxis, travelers can choose from various other modes of transportation, including buses, bicycles, private cars, or even walking, to reach Johor Bahru from Singapore.