Taxi drivers march in KL, demand Najib outlaw Uber, Grab

Cabbies from Penang, Johor, Malacca join counterparts in Klang Valley, in protest march, calling for Putrajaya not to allow ride-sharing services.

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100 taxi drivers marched from Jalan Duta to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex in protest against ride-sharing services Uber and Grab.

The taxi drivers who came from all around the country, demanded Prime Minister Najib Razak not to allow Uber and Grab to operate in the country anymore.

A few bus load of taxi drivers came from as far as Penang and Johor, as well as Malacca. Uber and Grab have been operating in these cities for many months, aside from the Klang Valley. Uber recently started operations in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu too.

“This is not something new. We’ve been saying this over and over again, it is against the law. How can the PM allow something that is against the law?” a cabbie by the name of Zulkifly said.

Another taxi driver who identified himself as Steven Kok, insisted that cabbies will not let the issue rest until such services are banned.

When asked why cabbies did not want to be Uber or Grab drivers instead, Kok – who hails from Penang – claimed that they (cabbies) have already shelled out a substantial amount of money to be taxi drivers.

“Some of us have been taxi drivers for a long time. We have followed the rules, we have paid the money, we have suffered.

“When Uber came along, our business suffered, as if it wasn’t already bad enough before. We will not stop until justice is served.”

The government had recently given its approval for these ride-sharing services with Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi saying that new public service vehicle (PSV) permits would be issued and could be called the “driver card”.

Aziz said the new permits would allow the government to legalise Uber and Grab services without amending the existing laws.

He also said the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) were deliberating the new PSV permits and would require all Uber and GrabCar drivers to register with the authorities.

This sparked additional outrage from taxi drivers, who initially lamented that Uber and Grab drivers did not have to pay for driving permits and licences.

A majority of taxi drivers fear that the government’s decision to legalise ride-sharing services would have an impact on their business.