KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia and Singapore will raise the quota for licensed cross-border taxis from 300 to 500 per country from Nov 16, alongside the introduction of two additional e-hailing operators under the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme.
The two new operators, Singapore-based CDG Zig Pte Ltd and Malaysia’s Kumpool Sdn Bhd, will be authorised to provide services under the expanded scheme from the same date, Bernama reported.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the transport ministries of both countries said the changes would give passengers and drivers greater flexibility and improve the experience of travelling between the neighbouring nations.
“Commuters and drivers can look forward to more options for cross-border point-to-point trips, greater convenience and a better commuting experience,” the statement said.
The ministries said the expansion underscored both governments’ commitment to improving cross-border transport links while supporting commercial ties and closer people-to-people connections.
“The improvements will further strengthen the strong business linkages and people-to-people ties between Singapore and Malaysia,” it added.
Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) director-general Ahmad Radhi Ma’arof welcomed the increased taxi allocation and the inclusion of the two additional licensed platform operators.
He described the move as a significant step towards improving passenger movement between Johor Bahru and Singapore, particularly in supporting first-mile and last-mile connectivity.
“… this shows a significant milestone in enhancing the cross-border passenger movement to complement the first-mile-last-mile connectivity between Johor Bahru, Malaysia and Singapore.
“It is our hope that this new development will signify further enhancement of connectivity between the two great nations,” he said.
CDG Zig and Kumpool will join GrabCar Pte Ltd as licensed operators under the scheme.
Singapore Land Transport Authority chief executive Ng Lang said the higher quota reflected the longstanding transport cooperation between the two countries.
“The increase in quota is an important step towards strengthening cross-border connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia, and reflects the strong and longstanding cooperation between our two countries,” he said.
Ng added that expanding the pool of licensed cross-border services would give travellers greater choice and flexibility, with both authorities continuing to work together to improve the journey experience.
“By expanding the availability of licensed cross-border services, we are giving travellers more options and greater flexibility for their journeys. We will continue to work closely with our Malaysian counterparts to improve cross-border travel and better serve the needs of travellers in both countries,” he said.
The latest changes follow enhancements to the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme introduced by both countries on May 4, 2026, aimed at making journeys more convenient while maintaining fair operating conditions for transport operators and drivers.
The measures included designated pick-up locations for ride-hailing and e-hailing bookings, greater flexibility in drop-off points, an expanded quota for licensed cross-border taxis and additional enforcement requirements to curb unauthorised domestic point-to-point transport services. – November 6, 2026