KL cabbies challenge authorities’ lack of urgency

Malaysian cabbies speak out against Uber and GrabCar and say they are ready to show their dissatisfaction by holding an even bigger protest

SUBANG JAYA: Frustration is growing among taxi drivers in Malaysia as private chauffeur services such as Uber, GrabCar and Blacklane have come into the picture, “threatening” the earnings of the every day taxi driver.

“Of course we feel threatened. Back then you see people waiting at bus stops, at the side of the streets, even our call centres were always busy. Now, nothing,” said Mathavan Subramaniam, a cabbie from Subang Jaya who is also the secretary for the Subang Jaya Taxi Drivers’ Association (PPTSJ).

Mathavan warned that the new services flooding the market would not only ruin the taxi business but would also tarnish the image of the country.

“Look at other countries and compare their population with the number of cabbies. Over here we have an overload of taxi drivers, and yet people are still coming up with all these services.”

Mathavan also questioned the lack of urgency and intent of the government in addressing how these private chauffeur services flouted the rules.

He was referring to a statement made by Syed Hamid Albar, chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), who confirmed that both Uber and GrabCar used unlicensed vehicles to carry passengers.

“If it’s illegal – which SPAD has already said – why isn’t anyone doing anything?” Mathavan asked bewildered.

“The government, the agencies responsible and especially the Rakyat need to know about this. Most citizens are not even aware that this is illegal.

“If somebody does not step up and take responsibility, it’ll tarnish the image of our country,” he said.

On July 6, a number of taxi drivers held a gathering outside the MyTeksi office in Petaling Jaya to protest against MyTeksi’s GrabCar chauffeur services.

They said the gathering was to seek answers from MyTeksi over a memorandum they had sent earlier.

After waiting for two hours, an officer from MyTeksi engaged the taxi drivers and read out a short statement in response to their memorandum.

The statement said that MyTeksi understood the cabbies’ frustrations and predicament, and would be open for discussions with the cabbies and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). It also said that MyTeksi would re-look the laws and regulations pertaining to transportation services in the country.

Speaking on behalf of PPTSJ, Mathavan said he was dissatisfied with the short statement and warned that he and the taxi drivers would be “planning something bigger” instead of the protest they had just held.

“We still respect the law and don’t want to take the law into our hands. We will be making bigger plans and we will make sure that justice is served,” said Mathavan.