Singapore Probes Kummute’s Cross-Border “CB Taxi” Service

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking into the new “CB Taxi” cross-border service launched by Malaysian e-hailing company Kummute, saying no platform has been approved to offer ride-hailing trips between Malaysia and Singapore.

According to The Straits Times, the LTA said it is working with Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) to clarify the business model of Kummute’s e-hailing platform.

”It added that any cross-border ride service must be “jointly agreed with our Malaysian counterparts” under existing bilateral rules.

Kummute launched the service on September 30, allowing users to book licensed Malaysian taxis from anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia directly to the Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore via its app. 

The company said about 120 licensed cross-border taxi drivers have already been verified and signed up.

Kummute’s head of business, Kenny Hew, said the company is operating within existing regulations since it only provides a booking platform and does not operate the taxis. 

“Our understanding is that Malaysia to Singapore trips fall under Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport or Apad’s licensing framework, since we are providing the booking platform and not operating the taxis ourselves,” he explained.

Despite the regulatory uncertainty, the service appears to be up and running. 

Currently, the cross-border taxi agreement only allows licensed taxis from Malaysia and Singapore to operate between Johor Bahru’s Larkin Sentral and Singapore’s Ban San Street Terminal.

Kummute, which is already an authorised e-hailing provider in Malaysia, said it is now seeking approval from Singaporean authorities to expand the service to rides originating from Singapore to Malaysia.