- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 1,027
- Points
- 0
Illegal taxi drivers still plying their trade on Queen Street
Ervina Mohd Jamil | Berita Harian | Tuesday, May 21, 2013
SINGAPORE - Illegal taxis are still plying their trade in the Queen Street area near Bugis, according to Berita Harian.
A visit to the Singapore-Johor Baru taxi terminal for three hours yesterday found several men loitering around the area while waiting for passengers.
The men are drivers of private Malaysian cars that are providing a taxi service to passengers who want to cross the Causeway. Their actions are causing resentment among drivers of licensed taxis who said that the illegal taxis are cutting corners and threatening their livelihood.
Around 400 taxis - 200 from Singapore taxi companies and 200 from Malaysian companies that are usually yellow in colour - are licensed to ply the route between Singapore and Pasar Bakti, near Tropical Inn Hotel, Johor Bahru.
Licensed taxis charge RM100 ($40) to ferry passengers from Singapore to Johor Bahru, or $10 per pax.
The fare from Johor Baru to Queen Street on the other hand is only RM60 ($25) or $6.25 per pax.
When Berita Harian reporters approached the taxi terminal at about 3.20pm yesterday, a Malaysian man in his thirties approached and asked, "JB? JB?"
He introduced himself as 'Aslan' and quoted a fare of $10 to City Square Shopping Mall and $20 to Larkin.
He was then seen leading a group of passengers towards a Toyota Innova with a Malaysian registration number that was parked at the side of the road before driving off.
Berita Harian spoke to a Malaysian man, Mr Lee Boon Aik, 24, and his sister at Queen Street terminal. They were accosted by another illegal taxi driver when they arrived at the terminal.
According to Mr Lee, the driver offered a fare of $100 to drive him to his home in Johor and then back to Queen Street terminal.
