The Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore has taken action against four drivers who were caught providing illegal cross-border chauffeured services between Singapore and Malaysia without a valid licence. The drivers were caught during an enforcement operation last week and face a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to S$3,000, or both. The vehicles used may also be forfeited, said LTA.

The LTA warned passengers against using such services, stating that the vehicles may not be sufficiently insured against third-party liabilities, which could pose a serious problem for passengers should an accident occur. The authority also advised that bookings of cross-border point-to-point ride-hail services, including those made through social media and messaging platforms, are illegal.

Under the Road Traffic Act (RTA), all vehicles, including foreign-registered vehicles, must have a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) to provide taxi or chauffeured private hire car services. Currently, the only licensed providers of cross-border point-to-point services are Singapore and Malaysian taxis that have been granted an ASEAN Public Service Vehicle Permit (PSVP). Malaysian taxis are also required to obtain a Cross-Border PSVL. These taxis are available for hire at Ban San Street Terminal (Singapore) and Johor Larkin Terminal (Malaysia), which are the designated pick-up and drop-off points for cross-border taxi services.

Passengers may also book cross-border trips through licensed Singapore taxi operators. LTA is working with platforms such as Klook, KKday and Google to remove advertisements of illegal cross border services, and some have been removed.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat lauded the “vigilant efforts” of the LTA enforcement officers in intercepting the four drivers attempting to provide illegal cross-border services. He added that he has asked LTA to take a firm stance against these unlawful practices and conduct undercover operations to catch the errant drivers.

This crackdown on illegal cross-border chauffeured services highlights the importance of adhering to licensing and insurance requirements for the safety of passengers and drivers. It also underscores the need for vigilance in enforcing regulations and taking a firm stance against unlawful practices. Passengers are advised to use only licensed and insured transportation services to ensure their safety and protection.