Touts earning up to $1k a day for illegal JB-Singapore ride hailing go into hiding amid crackdown
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The touts are believed to earn between RM1,650 and RM3,300 (S$1,000) each day.
PHOTO: ST FILE
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JOHOR BAHRU – 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 Bahru and Singapore
These touts, who operate using luxury multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) costing more than RM500,000 (S$152,000) each, are believed to earn between RM1,650 and RM3,300 (S$1,000) each day.
But since the crackdown by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) from Aug 5, these touts, who would usually hang around Larkin Sentral Terminal canvassing passengers, have gone into hiding.
The Singapore operation had targeted Malaysia-registered private vehicles.
Malaysia’s Road Transport Department started a similar operation against Singapore-registered vehicles on Aug 9.
Such operations are good news for licensed Malaysian cross-border taxi service drivers such as Mr Jasmani Yasmi, 51.
He hopes the LTA will continue with the action against the touts.
Malaysia- and Singapore-licensed taxi service drivers have been complaining about the touting problem for years, he said.
Mr Jasmani, who has been driving the Johor Bahru-Singapore taxi route for 15 years, claimed that no strict action was previously 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.
Singapore-registered taxis plying the route are allowed to ferry passengers from Larkin Sentral Terminal to different parts of Singapore.
On the other hand, Malaysian taxis are allowed to carry passengers only from the terminal to the Ban San Street taxi stand in Singapore, near the Queen Street Bus Terminal.
Another driver, Mr 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.
The Singapore operation had targeted Malaysia-registered private vehicles.
PHOTOS: LTA/FACEBOOK
Mr Rosli said the illegal operators would use MPVs with six to 11 seats, making them 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 Bahru.
Meanwhile, an official from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all Malaysia-registered vehicles entering Singapore to adhere to the Republic’s road transport regulations to avoid unnecessary issues, including the seizure of their vehicles.
The official said this was particularly important as the 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
They were nabbed during a joint operation by the LTA and Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
According to the LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022. Their foreign-registered vehicles were impounded. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
