Four Drivers Arrested for Offering Illegal Cross-Border Rides Between Singapore and Malaysia

On Tuesday (February 11), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) apprehended four individuals for unlawfully offering ride-hailing services within Singapore and across the border to Malaysia.

The LTA shared details of the operation in a Facebook post, revealing that the foreign-registered vehicles involved had been seized. The post was accompanied by a video showing multiple Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) being towed away from residential areas.

In its reminder to the public, the LTA warned against using unlicensed ride-hailing services, stressing the risks associated with vehicles lacking proper insurance and legal certification. These unregulated services present “serious risks” to passengers in the event of an accident.

“We will persist in our efforts to target those providing illegal hire-and-reward services, including those engaging in cross-border trips without a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSLV),” the LTA stated.

Violators of these laws could face fines of up to $3,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. In addition, the vehicles used in such illegal activities could be forfeited.

In response to a forum letter in The Straits Times from September 2024, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and LTA reiterated that there are no plans to permit foreign private-hire vehicles to operate cross-border services within Singapore.

Beyond safety concerns, both agencies noted that these illegal services undermine the livelihoods of local taxi and private hire drivers, given the disparity in operating costs and fare structures between Singapore and Malaysia.

To maintain fairness in the industry, the MOT and LTA stressed that licensed cross-border taxi services have fixed and transparent fares, ensuring that both Malaysian and Singaporean taxis are on equal footing.

The authorities also explained that foreign taxis are restricted to picking up and dropping off passengers only at designated points in their home countries to prevent them from offering illegal point-to-point services in Singapore.

The MOT and LTA further assured the public that they would continue to enforce strict penalties and actions against these illegal operations.