Johor Wants More Pick-Up, Drop-Off Points For Cross-Border Taxis

The Johor government is pushing for more pick-up and drop-off points for taxis crossing between Malaysia and Singapore, hoping to ease travel and boost businesses hit hard by restrictions.

Right now, Malaysian taxis can only drop passengers off at Rochor Road in Singapore, while Singaporean taxis are stuck with Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru. 

For travellers and businesses, that’s a serious limitation.

Johor’s Transport, Infrastructure, and Communications Committee chairman, Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, says the state wants to expand those options.

“In the first phase, we’re proposing five more drop-off points in Singapore, and they will also have five in Johor,” he said.

He added that a second phase could even allow some taxis and e-hailing cars to do limited door-to-door services though talks are still ongoing.

Earlier this month, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) made it clear it won’t fully open cross-border ride-hailing. 

At the moment, under the Cross Border Taxi Scheme, only 200 licensed taxis from each side are allowed to operate. 

Analysts say the restrictions are meant to shield Singapore’s taxi industry, but travellers and businesses in Johor are feeling the squeeze.

More than 400 travel agencies in the state say they’ve been badly hit since Singapore stopped accepting Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) applications in 2023.

One of them, Dr Khairul Anuar Mohtar, 37, said income has dropped by more than half. 

“We can’t send our tour vehicles into Singapore anymore, and it’s hitting us really hard,” he said in a The Independent Singapore report.
Recently, the LTA confirmed it’s reviewing a request from Malaysia for cross-border buses to start as early as 4AM to reduce crowding. 

“The talks include the possibility of earlier trips and slightly higher fares,” it wrote. Sources: Bernama, The Independent Singapore.