ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 7 — Cross-border taxis from Singapore are expected to be required to install a location-tracking system in Johor to monitor their movements and ensure passengers are picked up and dropped off only at designated locations.
Johor state executive councillor for public works, transportation, infrastructure and communications Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the move would be in line with Singapore’s requirement that Malaysian cross-border taxis install location tracking via the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2 system for the same purpose.
“Malaysia is expected to implement a similar or at least an equivalent measure; however, the matter of the installation cost is still under discussion,” he told Bernama in an interview at his office in Kota Iskandar recently.
Fazli added that the approach would also facilitate monitoring by the Transport Ministry.
Previously, Singapore’s acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said that Malaysian taxis operating in Singapore must install an on-board unit for ERP2 before its full implementation on January 1, 2027.
The measure is necessary to enable the government to monitor and, if needed, enforce against the vehicles while they are in the country.
On his part, Fazli said the Johor government had proposed 12 key locations in the state for Singapore cross-border taxis to drop off passengers.
The locations are Senai International Airport, JB Sentral, Medini, Southkey, Mount Austin, Eco Botanic, and six shopping malls, including Johor Premium Outlets (JPO).
“These drop-off points are locations the state government considers key destinations. When we mention taxis from Singapore, it could involve foreign tourists who arrive at Changi Airport and want to travel directly to Johor by taxi,” he said.
Cross-border taxis from Johor are understood to be allowed to drop off passengers at five locations in Singapore: Changi Airport, Kranji, Jurong, Shenton Way, and Rochor.
However, Fazli said that he understood that cross-border taxi fares have not yet been discussed.
At present, cross-border taxi drivers from Malaysia are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at Jalan Ban San Terminal in Singapore, while drivers from the republic operate at Larkin Sentral Terminal.
Currently, a one-way trip from the designated pick-up point at Larkin Sentral Terminal to Jalan Ban San Terminal costs RM120, while a one-way trip from the same location in the republic to Johor Bahru costs about SG$60 (RM185.74).
Taxi drivers from both countries have welcomed the latest initiative, expecting an increase in trips, though they also hope fares will be fairly standardised.
On December 5 last year, Malaysia and Singapore agreed to allow foreign taxis to drop off passengers at any location outside their home country, while pick-ups remain restricted to designated locations, which will be expanded gradually to prevent domestic point-to-point operations.
To support enforcement against illegal domestic trips, licensed taxis must be easily identifiable by corporate livery, tamper-proof vehicle plates with prefixes and special toppers, and must also install Singapore’s ERP2 unit to enter the country.
However, neither country has yet announced when the initiative, including the increase in the quota from 200 to 500 cross-border taxis, will be enforced.
