The bustling streets of Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru have once again become a hub for illegal cross-border ride-hailing services, with touts offering journeys from Johor Bahru to Singapore. But here's where it gets controversial... While the authorities have clamped down on these operations in the past, a new twist has emerged. Instead of using multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), which are more easily identifiable, drivers are now opting for sedans, making them harder to detect by Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA). This clever tactic has allowed them to continue their operations under the radar. However, the fare for this clandestine service has increased, with passengers now paying a hefty S$35 (RM114) per person, up from the previous S$30 (RM98). The drivers, like Safarudin Abu Bakar, who has been plying this route for 13 years, argue that they provide a necessary service. But Affidin Salimun, a Malaysian cabbie, disagrees. He believes that the only way to eliminate these illegal services is for the Singapore authorities to take action against passengers, including charging them in court. This controversial stance raises an important question: should passengers be held accountable for using these unauthorized services? The current legislation in Malaysia and Singapore allows only licensed taxis to offer cross-border services. Malaysian taxis are permitted to drop off passengers at Ban San Street
