Regulators should scrutinise any potential Grab-GoTo merger

Although the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore has not received any formal merger notification from Grab or GoTo, speculation about a potential tie-up has understandably drawn public interest (No Grab-GoTo merger notification yet, says Singapore competition watchdog, Nov 14).

- Lim Guohao

As a frequent user of private-hire services, I hope that the authorities will examine any prospective consolidation carefully and, when necessary, act early to safeguard the interests of commuters and drivers.

My concerns arise from observing how the market has evolved. Two decades ago, a metered taxi trip from the northwest to Bukit Batok cost about $7. Today, dynamic pricing for the same journey can be about $20. Inflation and higher operating costs are part of the explanation, but the scale of the increase suggests competitive pressures may have weakened.