Touts for Illegal JB-S'pore Ride-Hailing Go Into Hiding

The blitz on illegal transport services on both sides of the Causeway has spooked touts who had been earning good money offering unauthorised ride-hailing services between Johor Bahru and Singapore.

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JOHOR BAHRU -

These touts, who operate using luxury multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) costing more than RM500,000 (S$152,000) each, are believed to earn between RM1,650 and RM3,300 (S$1,000) each day.

But since the crackdown by Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) from Aug 5, these touts, who would usually hang around Larkin Sentral Terminal canvassing passengers, have gone into hiding.

The Singapore operation had targeted Malaysia-registered private vehicles.

Malaysia's Road Transport Department started a similar operation against Singapore-registered vehicles on Aug 9.

Such operations are good news for licensed Malaysian cross-border taxi service drivers such as Mr Jasmani Yasmi, 51.

He hopes the LTA will continue with the action against the touts.

Malaysia- and Singapore-licensed taxi service drivers have been complaining about the touting problem for years, he said.