Minister of State Sun Xueling announced on her Facebook page that ComfortDelGro Taxi will enhance the official cross-border taxi scheme starting 25 September 2025.
Here’s what’s new:
-
Doorstep pickup in Singapore – no more heading to Queen Street.
-
Bookings through CDG hotline 6552-1111.
-
Flat fare of about $80 per car for most trips.
-
Drop-off at Larkin Sentral, JB – the only designated point allowed by Malaysian authorities at this time.
Why Only Larkin?
Some netizens were quick to ask why taxis can’t drop passengers off at other popular spots like Mid Valley or Mount Austin. The answer: Malaysia decides the landing points. Discussions are ongoing, but until further notice, Larkin remains the only approved stop.
Minister Engages with Drivers’ Concerns
In the comments, one netizen thanked Minister Sun:
“Thank you Minister Sun for strengthening the official cross-border taxi scheme. It’s a good start, but on the ground we still see many MY cars doing point-to-point jobs in SG. Since ICA already controls our borders, we hope to see more development on enforcement together with LTA and Malaysia — to curb illegal PHV and protect the livelihoods of our local drivers.”
Minister Sun replied briefly but meaningfully:
“You will hear more about this soon ”
This reply hints that more enforcement or collaboration could be in the pipeline, something many drivers have long called for.
Enforcement Still a Priority
Authorities also confirmed that enforcement continues against illegal cross-border PHV rides, which not only lack proper licences and insurance, but also undercut local taxi and PHV drivers.
What It Means
For passengers:
-
More convenient and transparent — pick-up at your doorstep, $80 fare, legal and insured.
-
Still limited to Larkin drop-off, at least for now.
For drivers:
-
Legitimate cross-border work gets more visibility.
-
Ongoing enforcement could help protect income from illegal competition.
Firstlane’s Take: While this enhancement improves convenience for passengers, it doesn’t benefit private hire drivers at all — and realistically, we don’t expect cross-border trips will ever be extended to PHVs.
The scheme also faces the same old problem: limited driver interest. Most taxi drivers won’t want to spend hours caught in Causeway jams for a flat fare. In that sense, this feels more like a short-gap enhancement to show progress, rather than a true long-term solution for cross-border travel.
