SINGAPORE/JOHOR – Taxi driver Eddie Jui is looking forward to crossing the Woodlands Checkpoint with paying passengers soon, as providing cross-border taxi services will help supplement his income.
A trip to Johor Bahru will net him up to $100, while a return trip will earn him up to RM300 (S$96.70).
The 49-year-old GrabCab driver hopes that doing so will help make up for the low demand for taxi rides in Singapore, especially at night when there are fewer local trips.
“I will try it out a few times to see if there is enough demand to make doing cross-border services worth the time,” said Mr Jui.
Considering it a change in scenery from the familiar Singapore roads, Mr Jiu said the drives across the border may also be a chance to fill up his petrol-hybrid taxi in Malaysia.
He applied for the licence for cross-border taxi services around February, and is awaiting approval from the authorities.
In an announcement on April 30, the transport ministries of Singapore and Malaysia said that travellers will be able to be dropped off anywhere in Singapore and parts of Johor from May 4, instead of limiting foreign taxis to only one designated drop-off point on each side.
In addition to allocating three more pick-up points in each country for those using Grab, six-seater taxis have also been added to the service.
