Don’t bring SPAD back, activist tells govt

 

Activist Kamarudin Mohd Hussain has accused SPAD of destroying the taxi industry and says the body should not make a comeback. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A land transport activist hopes the government will not revive the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), despite calls to do so, as it had “destroyed” the taxi industry.

In a strongly-worded statement, the lead activist for Penyatuan Pemain Industri Pengangkutan Darat Malaysia (PPDM), a group comprising land transport industry players, accused SPAD of “oppressing hundreds and thousands of taxi drivers and their families” in the past.

Kamarudin Mohd Hussain claimed that SPAD had abused its power, including implementing two different rules for taxis and e-hailing services.

This, Kamarudin said, had impacted the income of taxi drivers.

Kamarudin, who had been one of SPAD’s most vocal critics, also said the commission had enforced its laws “inhumanely”, including issuing very steep compounds.

“I really hope the government does not revive SPAD as it is responsible for upsetting the industry.”

Earlier today, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan – a former head of policy and planning at SPAD – called for its revival to help the government deal with innovations in public transport and personal mobility.

He said this in response to the federal government’s recent decision to ban the use of electric scooters on public roads.

SPAD was established in June 2010 to oversee the planning and development of public transport, with the objective to increase the use of public transport and reduce private vehicle usage.

The commission was disbanded two years ago by the then Pakatan Harapan government and replaced by the Land Public Transport Agency which had less focus on policy planning and reduced jurisdiction in development and project implementation. - FMT