Cabbies see red over govt’s apathy

Fed up with the government for ignoring their grievances, 2,000 taxi drivers plan a protest this Sunday.

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Taxi Drivers Welfare Association is planning to hold a massive gathering over the federal government’s failure to address their problems.

The chairman of the association, M Manickam, said taxi drivers in city are angry and fed up with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for consistently overlooking their grievances.

“Our intention to hold the gathering is to divert the BN’s attention on us and look into our grouses, like social welfare benefits and housing loans, among others,” he said.

Manickam said that the event will take place at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre on July 31, and will be officiated by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin, Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu and Puchong MP Gobind Singh are also expected to lend support.

Manickam added that more than 2,000 taxi drivers will take part in the gathering.

“On that day, we will also table 10 resolutions urging the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to intervene and help highlight our grouses,” he said.

“Over the last couple of years, the government has failed to help improve the living standard of taxi drivers who have been working under restrictive rules and red tape.

“We want the government to initate Socso benefits, provide housing loans and stop issuing taxi permits to big corporate companies. These are among the resolutions we will table on Sunday,” he told FMT.