Frustrated cabbies want govt to launch its own e-hailing service

Penyatuan Pemain Industri Pengangkutan Darat Malaysia (PPDM), on behalf of taxi drivers, has called on the government to develop its own e-hailing service across the nation.

“We demand that the government develop its own e-hailing application for the use of all parties as a replacement for applications owned by (private) companies.

“(The companies) have clearly robbed the industry of billions of ringgit and damaged the country’s taxi industry ecosystem, as well as created disharmony among taxi and e-hailing drivers,” they said in a memorandum.

PPDM said the billions of ringgit accumulated by a government-run e-hailing service could be used to upgrade the quality of taxi services as well as provide insurance coverage schemes to taxi drivers and vehicles.

They added that the money could also be used to provide scholarships for the children of taxi drivers and provide compensation of RM100,000 to their heirs.

“In short, money from the industry will be returned to the industry and not allowed to be robbed out of the country, which has been the case all along,” read their memorandum.

Abolish all double standards 

In the meantime, the taxi drivers called on the government to abolish all double standards between taxi and e-hailing services and to recognise both industries under the commercial category.

“This is because both services carry out the same activities, which is to take passengers from one destination to another by charging a certain rate,” they said.

They added that consistent fare rates and regulations should be applied between both industries.

PPDM’s memorandum, which also contained demands on behalf of bus, lorry and p-hailing drivers, was received earlier today at the Prime Minister’s Office by representative Mohd Sabri Omar.

Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil, Bersatu party working secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya, Parti Kuasa Rakyat vice-president N Gobalakrishnan, Muda central executive member Ismail Nasaruddin and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia secretary-general Borhan Ahmad Zakaria also received the memorandum on behalf of their parties.

PPDM claimed that many letters have been sent to the Transport Ministry and its minister, pleading for a solution to their problems, yet none of their issues were addressed.

“As a result of that action, we as workers of the industry have had to go through a difficult and painful life. On that realisation we think it is time for us to make changes, we will work with any component party that is willing to comply with our demands,” they said.

PPDM is an organisation comprised of association leaders, operators and drivers involved in the country's land transport industry. - Mkini