Traffic lock-down in downtown KL as hundreds of taxi-drivers stage PROTEST

KUALA LUMPUR - TRAFFIC at the busy Jalan Bukit Bintang shopping area here yesterday came to a standstill for almost three hours yesterday after some 250 cabbies went on a protest.

The unprecedented action by the cabbies took place after enforcement officers from the Road Transport Department (RTD) and Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) began enforcing regulations relating to taxi operations in the area.

Taxi drivers left their vehicles parked in three rows, which resulted in a 100m stretch of road closed to traffic.

RTD enforcement director Jaafar Mohamed confirmed the protest had taken place.

“I can confirm that it did happen (the strike) and we were surrounded by cab drivers during the incident. We have lodged a police report and it will be brought to the attention of RTD Putrajaya.

“We request for the cooperation of taxi drivers not to break the law and not to touch or harm enforcement personnel who were carrying out their duties.

“Once the police investigation concludes and we have the relevant proof of the taxi plate numbers, we will bring up the matter with SPAD and the police for action to be taken.”

Jaafar said a meeting would be held with the police, SPAD, and Kuala Lumpur City Hall to decide on the next course of action.

Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad said the taxi drivers agreed to disperse an hour later, which gradually eased up the traffic gridlock caused by the protest.

Bistari Taxi Association chairman Mohamed Asharaf Yasin said the protest took place over RTD and SPAD’s move to forbid taxi drivers from parking their vehicles at the taxi stand beside the Pavilion shopping mall.

Asharaf said it was unfair for them to station their enforcement officers under an umbrella and to disperse any taxi waiting for customers.

Asharaf claimed the situation boiled over when an RTD officer told a taxi driver to call other taxi association members if he was dissatisfied.

The protest was resolved after members from the association and RTD enforcement officers discussed the matter at the Dang Wangi police station. -NST