Authorities have been cracking down hard on illegal private cars, and some local drivers have stepped up as “reporters.” At Changi Airport, they filmed suspected illegal drivers in action and sent the clips to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Mr Wen, a 54-year-old local private hire driver, told Shin Min Daily News that on the night of August 16 at about 11 pm, he spotted a Malaysian-registered MPV at Changi Airport Terminal 3’s arrival hall pick-up point. He suspected the vehicle was providing illegal transport services.
“It was originally parked at Gate 1. I was waiting for passengers at that time, so I kept watching it,” he said.
About 10 minutes later, the MPV drove to Gate 5. A man got out of the front seat and walked towards a couple, believed to be tourists. He even seemed to confirm their identities.
“I took out my phone to record them. They didn’t stop me, and the couple looked like foreigners who seemed confused.”
In the video provided by Mr Wen, the MPV bore a Malaysian license plate. The driver, dressed in a white shirt, later got out to help the passengers load their luggage into the boot. Mr Wen said he immediately reported the case on LTA’s official website.
“We mainly target Malaysian cars that provide point-to-point rides in Singapore. Their prices are cheaper, and tourists are not familiar with the rules, so many end up choosing these illegal cars to travel around local attractions,” he explained.
Such cases show why the government, together with National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) affiliate associations, has been stepping up efforts to protect local platform workers. A trilateral workgroup was also set up to address the challenges faced by these workers, following NTUC’s strong push for better support and protection for the platform workers.
Illegal foreign operators not only take away earnings from local drivers but also create unfair competition by bypassing regulations and safety standards. By cracking down on these activities, the authorities aim to safeguard the livelihoods of private hire and taxi drivers, while ensuring passengers enjoy safer and more reliable services.
Another private hire driver, Mr Lin, 50, shared that he runs a Facebook group for private hire drivers with about 200 members.
“Every day, drivers post photos in the group showing sightings of these illegal cars at tourist spots. I usually advise them to report to the authorities through the official site.”
He added that since the strict enforcement on August 5 this year, the number of Malaysian illegal cars had dropped significantly. However, recently, he noticed that they are becoming active again.
“Many times we’re driving passengers ourselves, so it’s hard to take photos. These illegal cars are commonly seen at the zoo, ferry terminals, and Sentosa,” said Mr Lin.
He also shared that there are a few ways to spot them. One is by their license plates, and another is by observing how the driver interacts with the passengers.
“Sometimes you can tell right away. The driver and passengers are clearly not family. For example, the driver is Malaysian while the passengers are foreign tourists.”
