Payment of fines doesn't guarantee release of vehicles used in illegal cross-border rides: LTA

The payment of fines by drivers convicted of providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services does not guarantee the release of the impounded vehicles involved.

- Aqil Hamzah

Instead, upon conviction, separate proceedings will be held to determine if the vehicle is to be forfeited, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a media reply on Sept 4.

Malaysian news outlet The Star had reported on Aug 24 that about 400 tour agencies were facing bankruptcy after their luxury multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) were seized in Singapore.

The news report said the vehicles were still impounded here despite their owners paying off the fines, after the drivers were caught for providing illegal cross-border transport services.

According to the report, 476 travel agencies in Johor are registered with its Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, with about 3,000 MPVs operating these cross-border services.

LTA said it has investigated more than 100 foreign-registered vehicles for providing such services in 2025, with most remaining impounded while investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

These vehicles may also include those registered to Malaysian tour companies, it added.