A Johor state assemblyman, Andrew Chen, has called for the governments of Malaysia and Singapore to adopt a common mechanism to regulate cross-border ride-hailing services.

In a Facebook post on Jul. 30, Chen said that a recent increase in enforcement efforts by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore to crack down on illegal chauffeur services has left many Malaysian drivers"frustrated and struggling".

He added that while he understood Singapore’s rationale in cracking down on unauthorised operators to maintain traffic order and ensure safety, a"blanket ban" will impact "thousands" of Malaysian drivers who rely on this service for their livelihoods, along with their families.

He wrote:

"Cross-border mobility is the lifeblood of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore—economically, politically, and socially. This should not be treated as a zero-sum game. Instead, both governments should come to the table to negotiate a legitimate and fair operational framework—one that protects passengers' safety and convenience, respects the interests of Singaporean operators, and at the same time, allows Malaysian and Singaporean drivers a viable path forward."

Chen also proposed a "mutually beneficial" mechanism, in which drivers must:

• Hold either a Malaysian Public Service Vehicle (PSV) or Singaporean Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL)
• Pass an annual health check
• Have their vehicles undergo periodic inspections at certified vehicle inspection centres
• Have passengers be covered by accident insurance.

LTA catching drivers

Earlier on Jul. 12, LTA said it had caught 22 drivers at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay for providing illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore, and to and fro Malaysia.

Since 2022, 116 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services using foreign-registered vehicles, LTA revealed.

All of their vehicles were impounded, and the penalties for those who have been charged and convicted so far include fines of up to S$2,600 and vehicle forfeiture.

LTA added that commuters should avoid using such illegal services as they lack proper insurance, pose safety risks to passengers and also affect the livelihoods of licensed drivers.

Licence required

A Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) is required to offer taxi or private-hire car services in Singapore, which also applies to drivers of foreign-registered vehicles that offer cross-border services between Singapore and Malaysia.

LTA and Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency must approve Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis that provide cross-border rides.

A spokesperson for LTA was further quoted by CNA as saying that each country has been given a quota of 200 taxis for such services.

There are almost 300 taxis in Singapore and Malaysia which are registered for such services.

These licensed taxis must use designated drop-off and pick-up points when outside their home country: the Ban San Street terminal in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Johor.

They can take and alight passengers anywhere within their home country.

The LTA spokesperson said: