KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) says that it has no plans to fully liberalise the Singapore-Malaysia cross-border point-to-point transport via ride-hail services.
This statement came following media reports yesterday that both Johor and the city state have proposed introducing cross-border e-hailing services as an alternative mode of transport for commuters.
LTA said officials from both sides met on August 1 to discuss cross-border service arrangements. However, no decision was made on allowing cross-border e-hailing to ferry passengers.
“While we are open to ideas to improve the cross-border commuting experience, we would like to clarify that LTA has no plans to fully liberalise cross-border point-to-point transport via ride-hail services,” LTA said in a Facebook post.
LTA pointed out that there is an existing reciprocal Cross Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS) in place, which allows a licensed fleet of up to 200 taxis from each side to ferry passengers between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
These cross-border taxis are currently permitted to pick up and drop off passengers only at a single designated point in the other’s country – Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru for Singapore taxis and Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore for Malaysian taxis.
“Today, the existing quota of the CBTS is not fully utilised. In view of commuter demand for more convenient cross-border travel, we will encourage full take-up of the quota of licensed taxis,” said the LTA.
The authority added that it is considering expanding the number of pick-up and drop-off points in each country and enabling cross-border bookings for licensed taxis through ride-hailing apps.
The LTA also confirmed that Malaysian authorities had requested for Singapore’s cross-border buses to begin operating from Johor Bahru as early as 4am, in a bid to reduce morning congestion.
This proposal is being evaluated, with LTA noting that early services should ideally align with the first MRT and bus operations in Singapore.
“LTA is exploring with cross-border bus operators the possibility of slightly earlier start times, and we are also engaging private bus operators to assess their interest in providing early services at higher fares,” the agency said.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had earlier stated that cross-border ride-hailing services were among the topics discussed during his meeting with Singapore’s Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on Friday.
He noted that such services could offer more flexible, on-demand mobility options, help reduce traffic congestion on major routes, and create income opportunities for local drivers. – August 4, 2025