Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S’pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services

JOHOR BAHRU - Singapore’s recent move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services within the Republic and across the border with Malaysia has sparked mixed reactions among local drivers.

While some feel that the move to go after illegal services is within the nation’s right, Malaysian drivers who carpool to work feel victimised, especially with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) detaining suspected vehicles for investigation.

One driver, who wished to be known only as Mr Tan, said he was just helping to send his friends home after work as they live nearby in Skudai when they were detained at Tuas Checkpoint for several hours.

“I feel that the authorities should give a warning or reminder before seizing my multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) as I am not using it to make money.

“I have been working in Singapore for some time. Each morning, I help send my friends to Singapore before I head to work. Later, I pick them up at the same location to drive back home,” he said.

Mr Tan said he was just doing this to help friends who happen to work near his company.

“However, we will split the petrol and vehicle entry permit charges at $35 per day.

“The LTA should go after those who do illegal business for a fee instead of nabbing anyone with a Malaysian-registered MPV,” he added.

Asked about the status of his car, Mr Tan said he is still waiting for the outcome of the probe.

But he is worried he could face a fine of $3,000 if he is deemed to have committed an offence in the Republic.

Another car owner, known only as Mr Chung, said he too had his family MPV seized when he was accused of providing an illegal ride-hailing service in Singapore.

“I work in Singapore and send my friends, who all live near my home in Tebrau, to work and back.

“I do not do any door-to-door pick-up services, but just drop off and pick them up along the way,” he said, adding that he does not charge them but accepts any cost-sharing from his friends.

Mr Chung said he has been having sleepless nights waiting for the outcome of the investigation after being stopped at Tuas Checkpoint and questioned for several hours.

Meanwhile, a Singaporean limousine services operator, known only as Mr Ben, said recent LTA operations at the checkpoints are showing results as they are now getting up to 25 to 30 extra trips daily to pick up and send passengers within Singapore or to Malaysia.

“Previously, we would get one or two trips every few days but since the operations began, we have been able to get more customers.

“These illegal operators from Malaysia usually undercut our prices by up to 40 per cent and that really hurts our business.

“We also pay higher insurance premiums to cover our passengers, not just in Singa­pore but also in Malaysia,” he said, adding that many illegal Malaysian operators do not have insurance coverage in Singapore.

Separately, the LTA said in a statement that

19 drivers were caught offering illegal ride-hailing services

within Singapore and across the border on Aug 5.

They were nabbed after a combined operation with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that targeted such activities at a land checkpoint and through LTA’s patrols at Gardens by the Bay and Changi Airport.

This is the first time both agencies conducted such an operation at a land checkpoint, which saw suspected vehicles getting impounded.

According to the LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022.

Those who have been charged and convicted so far have been fined up to $2,600 and had their vehicles forfei­ted.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said in a Facebook post on Aug 6 that the LTA was ramping up its enforcement against such illegal services because these drivers do not have proper licence and insurance coverage for passengers.

“Such services put passengers at risk, and harm the livelihoods of law-abiding licensed drivers,” she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK