Taxi Driver Sparks Outrage Refusing Short Zoo Trip

Heated Exchange Caught on Camera After Driver Allegedly Declines Ride to Bukit Panjang

A recent incident at the Mandai Zoo has ignited online debate after a taxi driver was reportedly filmed refusing to take a passenger to Bukit Panjang, despite being first in line.

Viral Footage Captures Confrontation

The dramatic event unfolded on July 24, with a one-minute, 34-second video of the altercation surfacing on the SGRV Facebook page. In the footage, the person recording, a bystander, alleges the Transcab driver bypassed a waiting passenger. The bystander is heard advising potential passengers to use ride-sharing services instead, stating, Never mind, you can all go over there and take a Grab.

According to reports, the driver declined the journey because he deemed the distance to Bukit Panjang too short. The taxi was visibly unoccupied and displaying an “available” sign, with four other cabs queued behind it.

Verbal Spat Escalates

The video depicts the driver initially attempting to disengage, but the cameraman’s persistent calls drew him back, leading to a heated verbal exchange. Both individuals are heard shouting Come lah! at each other as the dispute intensified.

Public Reaction and Regulatory Context

The video quickly garnered significant attention, with over 130 comments on social media. While many users condemned the driver for allegedly refusing passengers based on destination, others suggested the bystander’s intervention was unnecessary and that a formal complaint to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would have been more appropriate.

Under LTA regulations, taxi drivers are prohibited from refusing passengers without a valid reason. Violators face penalties including a $300 fine, six demerit points, and a potential two-week suspension of their vocational license. In Singapore, taxi drivers reject approximately 0.15% of fare requests, according to a 2023 LTA report on public transport service standards.