SINGAPORE/JOHOR BAHRU – Allowing cross-border taxis from both sides to drop passengers anywhere in their destination countries is a step towards making the scheme more attractive, said drivers and passengers.
promise of more convenience will hopefully redirect demand towards these services,
which have been undercut by illegal operators, said drivers from Singapore and Malaysia, who described waiting for long hours for a fare.
But the proposed changes could still fall short of the door-to-door services that consumers increasingly want, said observers, cabbies and passengers.
They also cited longstanding concerns about Causeway congestion and price imbalances, contributing to the issues the scheme has faced over the years.
The reactions come on the back of a joint announcement by Singapore and Malaysia on Dec 5 that both countries would increase the quota for cross-border taxis from 200 each now to 500, and allow taxis from either side to drop passengers off anywhere in their destination country.
Currently, taxis can do so only if they are registered in the destination country. Otherwise, they have to make drop-offs at Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru or Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore.
Some passengers welcomed the move, including Singaporean Pah Yew Heng, 40, who said that with flexibility in drop-off points, he is now more inclined to book cross-border taxi rides if he is unable to secure train tickets into Johor Bahru.
The private-hire driver will, however, still take the train if possible, citing the high cost of taxi rides and heavy congestion on the Causeway.
At Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru, Malaysians told The Straits Times that the move will rule out the need to take a second trip from the designated drop-off point, which creates hassle and confusion.
Taxi driver Balakumaran Kalipan, 45, said that while many passengers choose to wait for others to split the cost of a trip to Ban San, the price is not the problem.
The limited route is.
“Back when there were still Pak Wanca (drivers offering illegal cross-border services), people didn’t mind paying the higher price because they drove them straight to their doorstep.
“But we can’t do that because we are Malaysian taxis and our trips are limited only to Bugis,” he said.
Some drivers, like Mr Kasinathan Annamalai, 67, said they have been waiting for the move “for years” as many passengers want the convenience of being taken to their doorstep.
Allowing drivers to do this will boost their incomes as it makes their services more attractive to Singaporean and Malaysian customers, who will no longer need to stop at the designated points and find another mode of transport elsewhere.
