Malaysian “pirate cars” have been found offering not just cross-border trips but also point-to-point services, even allowing tourists to “book the whole car” for the day.
This has been eating into the business of local taxis, private hire cars, and limousine drivers. After recent enforcement efforts by authorities, local drivers say their passenger numbers have gone up by as much as 30 percent.
Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday that a Singapore limousine driver was caught ferrying Singapore passengers to Legoland Malaysia in Johor, and had his car seized by the Johor Road Transport Department. The driver could not work and still had to pay a daily rental fee of $190.
Pirate cars stop operations in Singapore
Over several days, reporters spoke to multiple taxi, limousine, and private hire drivers, who said Malaysian pirate cars not only run illegal cross-border trips but also come into Singapore to pick up passengers. These drivers would ferry passengers from Johor Bahru to Singapore, then head to tourist spots here to look for more customers.
Some Malaysian pirate cars also target foreign tourists flying into Singapore, offering them a trip that includes sightseeing in Singapore before heading to Johor. Their rates are cheaper than local limousine services.
One local limousine driver, Mr Chen, said it is an open secret that Malaysian pirate cars operate here, and it is a major source of frustration for local drivers.
He added that since the crackdown, these pirate cars have temporarily stopped operating in Singapore, and business for local drivers has boomed.
“My own passenger numbers have gone up by more than 30 percent in the past few days. Previously, some Malaysian drivers would pass jobs to Singapore drivers for a cut, but now no one dares to take them. Nobody wants to risk going over to Malaysia.”
At least five taxi drivers also confirmed their passenger numbers have risen since the pirate cars reduced operations.
Mr Leong, 72, said pirate cars can still be seen on weekends, but there are fewer now. Mr Xie, 52, and Mr Chen, in his 50s, both said they have seen about a 10 percent increase in passengers.
At Sentosa’s taxi stand, Mr Cai, 71, said his business has gone up by about 20 percent and hopes enforcement will continue. He also reminded the public that while pirate cars may be cheaper, they do not offer safety guarantees.
Pirate cars target concerts and football matches
When there are concerts or football matches, Malaysian pirate cars are also spotted here.
One taxi driver, who declined to be named, said he has seen passengers board “chartered cars” near Changi Airport.
“I once picked up a group at Changi Airport who wanted to go to the Expo area. After they got out, they boarded a Malaysian-registered limousine, likely headed to Johor.”
He added that for big events like concerts or matches, some passengers would take a taxi to a spot about five to ten minutes away and then switch to a Malaysian car, possibly to avoid detection.
Singapore passengers: Not taking the risk for now
Mr Wong, 50, an engineer, said he used to take pirate cars from his home in Singapore to Malaysia.
“I found the service convenient because I didn’t have to unload my luggage. Anything I bought could be kept in the car.”
He said a trip from his home to Mid Valley Southkey in Johor costs about $90 to $100, while a 10-hour service to anywhere in Malaysia, with a return trip, costs around $300 to $400.
But with the increased enforcement, he said he is not taking pirate cars for now.
LTA: 136 drivers caught since 2022
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said 136 drivers have been caught since 2022 for using foreign-registered vehicles to provide illegal cross-border services. All vehicles were seized.
Those convicted face fines of up to $2,600 and possible forfeiture of their vehicles. LTA reminded commuters to use licensed cross-border taxis, which have insurance coverage, and said it will continue to clamp down on illegal services to protect commuter safety and legitimate drivers’ livelihoods.
Associations call for review of cross-border taxi scheme
Yeo Wan Ling, advisor to the National Taxi Association, the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, and the National Delivery Champions Association, confirmed that the associations are aware of foreign vehicles illegally operating point-to-point services here.
She said this creates unfair competition and risks for passengers, since these vehicles may lack proper insurance and safety standards.
The associations are in active talks with members and government agencies to tackle illegal operators. Yeo, who is also an NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, said the issue will be a focus area for the tripartite workgroup on platform workers in the coming months.
On the review of the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS), she said the associations have been pushing for changes to meet evolving commuter needs while protecting local drivers’ livelihoods.
They have proposed several measures to the Ministry of Transport and LTA, including allowing Singapore taxi drivers to have multiple drop-off points in Johor, launching a cross-border taxi booking app, speeding up immigration clearance, and removing passport stamping for cross-border trips.
“We will continue to work closely with the authorities to represent drivers’ needs and ensure their welfare and job security remain a priority. We look forward to a reform that puts Singapore drivers first.”
