Malaysian-registered Vehicles Picking Up Passengers and Tourists in Singapore

Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Ministry is aware of feedback on increasing instances of Malaysian-registered vehicles illegally picking up and/or guiding passengers and tourists on local tours in Singapore and to Malaysia; and (b) whether the Ministry is putting in place any form of enforcement to deal with Malaysian-registered vehicles who are competing with local drivers for business to ferry tourists at Singapore attractions or at transport terminals.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: All foreign-registered buses need to have an ASEAN Public Service Vehicle (PSV) permit issued by our Land Transport Authority (LTA) to enter Singapore. For tour buses, there is an additional requirement that they have to be conveying an identified group of passengers who commenced their journey from an ASEAN member country (not Singapore). These tour buses are allowed to enter Singapore empty subsequently, however, to pick up the same group of passengers for the return journey back to the country of origin. For foreign-registered buses plying scheduled services, an Omnibus Licence is required on top of the ASEAN PSV permit for them to enter Singapore empty to pick up passengers at designated stopping points within Singapore.

The LTA has received seven cases of feedback in the last two years on Malaysia-registered vehicles picking up passengers in Singapore and has investigated accordingly; however, no transgressions were detected. If convicted, the PSV permit holder may be liable to a fine, imprisonment, and/or suspension or revocation of the permit for his/her vehicle.