JOHOR BARU: The Johor Road Transport Department (RTD) seized a Singapore-registered MPV at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) checkpoint after it was allegedly used for an unlicensed cross-border public transport service.
In a statement, RTD said the car, driven by the Singaporean man, was ferrying three Malaysian women when it was stopped during a joint enforcement operation by their BSI enforcement unit on Oct 23.
Initial checks showed the vehicle was being used without a valid operator’s licence, was not registered as a public service vehicle under Malaysia’s MySikap system, and had no valid Malaysian road tax.
MySikap is RTD’s online portal for vehicle and driver licensing transactions.
The MPV was seized for further investigation under Section 16(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (APAD Act) for conducting public transport services without a valid operator’s licence and for operating in the country without authorisation.
Notices under Sections 80(1), 222, and 224 of the same Act were issued to the vehicle owner.
Johor RTD said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising number of Singapore-registered vehicles providing unlicensed ride services in Johor, particularly at the Malaysia–Singapore Causeway.
“We remain committed to strict enforcement along the international route to ensure all operators comply with regulations for the safety and welfare of road users,” the statement read.
Last week, the New Straits Times reported that a Malaysian man was detained for allegedly driving a Singapore-registered multipurpose vehicle to ferry passengers across the Causeway earlier this month.
The man, who was behind the wheel of a Singapore-registered Toyota Alphard, was stopped by the state RTD during an enforcement operation at BSI.
RTD warned that unlicensed operations violated transport laws and also pose safety risks, as these vehicles often lack proper insurance coverage for passengers while operating outside their jurisdiction.
The NST learnt such cases are now becoming increasingly common.
Unsanctioned Singapore-based drivers, and Malaysians driving Singapore-registered vehicles have been known to offer cheap, unlicensed shuttle or ride-sharing services via social media and messaging apps, targeting both Malaysians and Singaporeans seeking convenient travel between Woodlands and Johor Baru, vice-versa.
The NST contacted Johor RTD director Zulkarnain Yasin to determine whether such cases had increased in recent months, but he did not respond by press time.
Under existing agreements, only licensed taxis approved by Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) are permitted to ferry passengers across the Causeway and drop them off at designated terminals.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
