Illegal but in demand: Why some book unlicensed rides to Malaysia

Many drawn to cheaper fares, point-to-point option; some unaware services are illegal

- Elaine Lee

For Ms Kuan (not her real name) and her husband, making day trips across the border to indulge in good food and pampering spa treatments is a cherished ritual.

When travelling as a couple, they simply hop on the Causeway Link bus, which takes them from the Queen Street Bus Terminal near Ban San Street to Johor Bahru for less than $5 each. But when they want their 10-month-old baby to join in the fun, they need to explore other transport options.

For a recent four-day vacation to Johor, Ms Kuan turned to a crossborder chauffeur service that she found online. She booked a sevenseater Toyota Innova as she needed more space for her family of three, her father-in-law, three pieces of luggage, a baby stroller and a car seat, which she requested at the point of booking.

On the day of their trip, a Malaysian driver showed up punctually to whisk them from their home in the east of Singapore to various attractions in the Johor coastal town of Desaru, before dropping them off at a hotel in Johor Bahru in the evening.

Ms Kuan paid $300 for 12 hours of point-to-point service. It was not the most wallet-friendly option, but she had no complaints. "My baby cannot walk yet," said the manager in her 30s. "We need this service since we don't have our own car." Ms Kuan, however, was unaware that it is illegal for private hire drivers to offer cross-border rides without a valid public service vehicle licence (PSVL). She said the company's website looked “legit", so she did not question if the service provider was licensed.

At least 10 other Singaporeans told The Straits Times that they did not know the chauffeur service is illegal. And there are others, like Gerald (not his real name), who are undeterred by the law.