Singapore Maintains Stance on Cross-Border Ride-Hailing Regulations

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore announced on August 3, 2023, that there are no plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services. Instead, the authority is considering integrating ride-hailing apps for booking licensed taxi trips across borders. Additionally, discussions are underway to increase the number of designated boarding and alighting points for taxis traveling between Singapore and Malaysia.

This clarification follows recent media reports in Malaysia that suggested Singapore was poised to introduce cross-border on-demand ride services. On August 1, Singaporean and Malaysian officials convened to discuss existing cross-border transport arrangements, during which the topic of e-hailing services was raised. The LTA confirmed that no definitive decisions were made during these discussions.

Current Cross-Border Taxi Scheme

The LTA emphasized that while it remains open to ideas for enhancing the cross-border commuting experience, there are no intentions to fully liberalise point-to-point transport via ride-hail services. “We would like to clarify that LTA has no plan to fully liberalise cross-border point-to-point transport via ride-hail services,” the authority stated.

Reports from the Malay Mail noted that during discussions, Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi proposed a cross-border e-hailing service to provide commuters with more flexible transport options and alleviate congestion. The existing reciprocal cross-border taxi scheme allows up to 200 licensed taxis from each country to operate between Singapore and Johor Bahru. Currently, these taxis can only pick up and drop off passengers at designated locations: Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru for Singapore taxis and Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore for Malaysian taxis.

The LTA noted that the current quota for this taxi scheme is not being fully utilized. In light of commuter demand for more convenient travel options, the authority aims to encourage the complete use of the available quota. “We are also considering increasing the number of boarding and alighting points in each other’s country, and to use ride-hailing apps to book cross-border trips on licensed taxis,” the LTA added.

Adjustments to Bus Operations

During the meeting, Malaysian authorities also requested that cross-border buses from Singapore be allowed to start operations from Johor Bahru at 04:00. The LTA is currently evaluating the possibility of adjusting these operating times to better accommodate early morning commuters and to reduce bus crowding.

A key factor in this assessment is ensuring that the first buses align with the starting times of local bus and MRT services upon their arrival in Singapore. The LTA is in discussions with cross-border bus operators regarding potentially advancing bus start times and has also engaged private bus operators about the possibility of offering earlier services for higher fares.

Public bus operations, including those from SBS Transit and SMRT, are also reviewing this request. Currently, the earliest public bus service across the border operates at 05:00 on weekdays. SBS Transit mentioned that resource availability will be a consideration, while SMRT aims to balance commuter needs with operational sustainability. Both operators stressed that the safety of commuters and the well-being of bus captains are their top priorities.

As these discussions and evaluations continue, the LTA remains committed to enhancing cross-border transport while ensuring the interests of both commuters and service providers are upheld. Further developments on this issue are anticipated as officials from both countries collaborate on the potential adjustments to cross-border transport services.