Grab announces new Singapore-JB ride-sharing

Grab announces new Singapore-JB ride-sharing service



Commuters travelling between Singapore and Johor Baru can soon make use of a new cross-border ride-sharing service.

The GrabHitch Johor Baru-Singapore Inter-Country Service will be available from next Monday (June 20), Grab said in a media release on Monday (June 13).

Passengers, who can pre-book rides between seven days and 30 minutes in advance, will be matched with drivers based on similar pick-up and drop-off locations.

A trip between City Square shopping centre in Johor Baru and Woodlands starts from RM9 (S$3) per person, and passengers can opt to pay either in cash or by credit card.

Fares are aimed at offsetting the driver's cost of petrol, and rides will be charged in the currency of the country from which the passenger starts his trip.

The new service is an extension of the carpooling platform, GrabHitch, which was launched last November (2015).

"The high cost of travelling, frequent congestion and lack of point-to-point transportation between Johor Baru and Singapore are compelling reasons for us to introduce the GrabHitch JB-SG service," said GrabHitch head Ngiam Xin Wei.

The Causeway and Second Link are among the busiest land checkpoints in the world, with an estimated 400,000 crossings in both directions daily.

~Straits Times/Asia News Network~

S'pore, Myanmar agree on visa-free travel

S'pore, Myanmar agree on visa-free travel

PM Lee and Myanmar State Counsellor Suu Kyi witnessed the exchange of the diplomatic notes on the visa exemption yesterday. Under the agreement, both countries will grant an exemption of visa to each other's citizens for a stay of not longer than 30 days, and subject to prevailing entry requirements from Dec 1.

FROM Dec 1, Singaporeans travelling to Myanmar for short trips will no longer need to apply for a visa.

Myanmar nationals visiting Singapore will also not have to apply for a Singapore visa under a 30-day visa exemption announced yesterday.

The two countries exchanged diplomatic notes on the visa exemption yesterday, on the first day of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's official visit to Myanmar.

PM Lee and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi witnessed the exchange of the diplomatic notes between Singapore's Ambassador to Myanmar, Robert Chua, and Myanmar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Kyaw Tin.

Under the agreement, both countries will grant an exemption of visa to each other's citizens for a stay of not longer than 30 days, and subject to prevailing entry requirements.

The arrangement applies to those holding ordinary passports, and will be implemented by both sides on Dec 1.

The announcement of the visa exemption is part of a growing relationship between both countries.

Earlier, PM Lee called on President Htin Kyaw at the presidential palace, where he received a ceremonial welcome. He also met Ms Suu Kyi.

The number of Myanmar tourists visiting Singapore has grown steadily in recent years. Annual visitor arrivals from Myanmar to Singapore rose by 12 per cent from 2011 to last year, an increase of 3 per cent every year.

Last year, 105,452 Myanmar tourists visited Singapore. They spent an average of $2,811 per person per trip.

Meanwhile, 45,125 tourists from Singapore visited Myanmar last year, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Hotel and Tourism.

There are also now more weekly flights between Singapore and Myanmar's two largest cities, Yangon and Mandalay. The number of flights a week increased from 44 to 49 from January to May this year.

At the closed-door meetings, PM Lee congratulated President Htin Kyaw and Ms Suu Kyi on their successful elections.

He said Singapore continues to support Myanmar's development, including by sharing expertise in relevant fields.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday that officials from Myanmar have been invited to visit Singapore for further discussions on education policy and the development of hawker centres.

PM Lee also updated Ms Suu Kyi on the progress of the Singapore-Myanmar Vocational Training Institute, and the offer of internships in Singapore to its top students.

During the meeting, the leaders underscored the strong ties between both countries and updated each other on the various commemorative events planned this year to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, including high-level reciprocal visits.

They discussed ways to strengthen economic ties, by updating the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and working towards starting discussion on a bilateral investment treaty.

They also exchanged views on how tourist flows between both countries could be strengthened through more air links.

~News courtesy of My Paper~