Chloe Lim
Published Fri, Dec 5, 2025 · 10:54 AM
[SINGAPORE] Singapore and Malaysia will gradually increase the quota for licensed cross-border taxis to 500, from the current level of 200 per country, the transport ministries from both sides said in a statement on Friday (Dec 5).
Each country will provide an additional quota of 100 in the beginning. This will be prioritised for larger and more premium vehicles that can address the needs of larger groups and business travellers.
Another outcome of discussions between the two sides was that foreign taxis would be allowed to drop off passengers anywhere outside their home country. They are currently allowed to pick up passengers anywhere in their respective home countries.
That said, foreign taxis can pick up passengers only at designated pick-up points outside their home country. This is so that they do not become providers of local point-to-point services, the countries agreed.
“We will gradually increase the number of pick-up points for ride-hail or e-hailing app bookings,” the Friday statement said.
Regardless, National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling said this move to expand the network of pick-up and drop-off points would make it more convenient for passengers, and widen income opportunities for drivers.
In a Facebook post on Friday morning, Yeo, who is also adviser to the National Taxi Association, also acknowledged that the increase in licensed taxi quotas – particularly for larger and premium vehicles – would better support business travellers and larger groups.
“These enhancements, and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, will open up larger market opportunities for our cabbies, allowing more taxi drivers to tap into the growing demand for cross-border transport.”
The two countries will also work towards a “regulatory regime” for cross-border ride-hail and e-hailing platforms to enable passengers and drivers to arrange cross-border rides more conveniently and efficiently.
The announcements came following a meeting between Singapore’s Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The meeting to discuss efforts to strengthen transport links between the two nations was part of the 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat.
Other meeting outcomes included mandating licensed taxis to be clearly identifiable by livery, tamper-proof vehicle plate with predefined prefix and topper, in order to prevent illegal domestic point-to-point trips.
They will also be required to install Singapore’s ERP2 on-board unit for entry into Singapore, added the statement.
Singapore and Malaysia will also work towards improving insurance coverage of cross-border taxis, and accelerating claims processing in the event of accidents.
Cross-border bus services regulationsThe Land Transport Authority of Singapore and the Land Public Transport Agency of Malaysia have also been approached by the two transport ministers to work on aligning the regulatory regimes of Singapore and Malaysia, to enhance cross-border bus services for tourism.
This comes as both ministers have observed that “a wider range of services” can make bus travel a more attractive option for travellers, especially those headed for destinations beyond Johor Bahru.
“Officials from both countries will keep up their close engagement, and work expeditiously towards an agreement and implementation of enhancements to cross-border taxi and bus services,” noted the Friday statement.
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