They worry about high costs, potential oversupply under cross-border route policy update<\/strong><\/p>\n MALAYSIAN taxi drivers plying the Johor Baru-Singapore cross-border route are calling for urgent clarification on a new policy that will allow them to drop off passengers anywhere in the republic.<\/p>\n Following a joint announcement regarding the new ruling by Malaysia and Singapore on Dec 5, taxi drivers at Larkin Sentral Terminal said they were still in the dark regarding the plan\u2019s specifics.<\/p>\n Larkin Sentral Terminal coordinator Abdul Rahman Atan, 60, described the current situation as \u201cvague\u201d, noting that most taxi drivers were currently relying on news reports and social media for information.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil today, nobody from the authorities has come to explain the new ruling.<\/p>\n \u201cThe policy lacks specific details,\u201d he said when met at the terminal in Jalan Garuda, Johor Baru.<\/p>\n Currently, Malaysian-registered taxis are restricted to a \u201cterminal-to-terminal\u201d service, thus only allowed to ferry passengers from Larkin Sentral to the Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore.<\/p>\n In contrast, Singapore-registered taxis already enjoy the privilege of dropping passengers off at various locations in Malaysia.<\/p>\n Beyond policy confusion, drivers are also grappling with financial implications of the new plan.<\/p>\n A key requirement for the new service is installation of updated Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) card readers in Malaysian taxis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were informed it costs S$600 (RM1,895) for the new card,\u201d said Abdul Rahman, adding that the existing ERP card reader installed in Malaysian-registered taxis was S$150 (RM474).<\/p>\n The potential expansion of taxi fleets is also causing anxiety among veteran drivers.<\/p>\n Yunos Makon, 60, highlighted concerns over a proposal to increase the number of licensed taxis from 200 to 500.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could cause market saturation, which would drive down earnings and increase competition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Yunos pointed out that currently, only about 150 out of the 200 licensed taxis on each side were actively plying the Johor Baru-Singapore cross-border route.<\/p>\n However, he acknowledged that if implemented correctly, the policy could help eliminate unlicensed ride-hailing services that currently operated between Larkin Sentral and Singapore.<\/p>\n Taxi drivers are hopeful the hurdles can be cleared by January or early February 2026.<\/p>\n This timeline would allow them to take advantage of the expected travel surge during the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive periods, in February and March respectively.<\/p>\n The authorities have reminded the public that providing cross-border transport without a valid public service vehicle licence remains a serious offence.<\/p>\n Under Singapore\u2019s law, offenders face fines of up to S$3,000 (RM9,473) and a jail term of up to six months.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n