For years, cross-border taxis traveling between the two neighbors could only pick up and drop off passengers at a single designated point in the destination country.
Under the updated regulations, Malaysian taxis are now permitted to drop off passengers at any location within Singapore. Conversely, Singaporean taxis can transport passengers to key hubs in Johor, including Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai, and Senai.
The total number of licensed cross-border taxis will increase from 200 to 300 for each country, according to a joint statement released by the two transport ministries.
“From May 4, the cross-border taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia will be enhanced to bring greater convenience to travelers while ensuring fair operating conditions for transport providers and drivers in both countries,” the statement read.
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Commuters take the Woodlands Causeway to Singapore from Johor a day before Malaysia imposes a lockdown on travel due to the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore in 2020. Photo by Reuters |
A traveler in Singapore can now book a local taxi to travel directly from their home to locations such as Johor Bahru City Square.
However, Malaysian taxis are still prohibited from picking up passengers from residential addresses in Singapore and must continue to use designated pick-up points.
To maintain order and combat illegal transport operations, all participating vehicles must adhere to strict identification standards. This includes displaying specific liveries, unique license plate prefixes, and official taxi topper signage. Taxis must also be fitted with tracking or enforcement devices to ensure compliance with the host country’s regulatory framework.
Grab, currently the main ride-hailing platform offering cross-border taxi bookings between Singapore and Johor, announced Thursday that it will pilot a new service on its app, the Cross-Border SG-JB (Beta) service, on May 4.
Under the new license, Grab can provide advance, door-to-door bookings between locations in Singapore and approved areas in Johor.