JOHOR BARU – The resumption of cross-border taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia today, after about two years of operations being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is a blessing and gift for taxi drivers in both countries.
After being unable to earn for so long, they are now busy ferrying passengers from Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal here.
Arshad Abdul Jalal described the moment as a blessing before Syawal, with the resolution of the problem taxi drivers faced previously with applying for permits to enter Singapore.
“Right at midnight, we already started taking passengers here and also in Singapore. After two years of not being able to enter Singapore, today is the first day we will resume our operations.
“Alhamdulillah, I am grateful for the announcement as the process of getting a permit to Singapore takes time, but thanks to all parties, the borders have reopened....the extreme joy is indescribable,” the 56-year-old driver, who has been driving for five years, said at the Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal here today.
Singaporean taxi driver Hanif Mahbob, 69, also expressed delight that the resumption of cross-border travel would give him opportunities to meet his fellow taxi friends.
“Alhamdulillah, I feel very happy to be able to meet my friends again in Johor. After two years of driving only in Singapore, now I can enter Johor. I feel excited,” said Hanif, a taxi veteran of 38 years.
Meanwhile, Larkin Sentral building manager Mohd Helmi Mohd Affendi said the bus and taxi services across the Johor Baru-Singapore border began operating from bus stations simultaneously starting today.
He added that three bus companies – SBS Transit, Singapore Johore Express, and Causewaylink – were currently operating, with the first bus service beginning at 5.20am and the last trip at 12.30am.
“The cross-border buses operate about 100 trips daily and the number is expected to increase during the second week,” he said.
Helmi said there are about 60 Johor Baru-Singapore taxi drivers, with an estimated 30 of them starting their operations today, while the rest are still in the process of renewing permits and getting approval from the Singaporean Transport Ministry.
“However, we expect the number of the cross-borders taxis to increase in time,” he said.
Checks at the Johor Causeway found congested traffic from early morning until noon and vehicles moving slowly from Singapore to Johor Baru.
Other checks at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, which faces the Causeway, revealed that vehicles were almost at a standstill due to the increase in traffic entering Malaysia.
Several individuals were also spotted crossing the Causeway from Singapore to the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in Bukit Chagar for last minute Aidilfitri shopping. – Bernama, May 1, 2022
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