KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — The ban was supposed to have come into effect yesterday but several Uber drivers continued to render their services without fear.

No major crackdown on the UberX ridesharing mobile phone application service was seen, although the number of drivers took a plunge. 

There were isolated claims by UberX drivers that some of their peers and  passengers were fined by the authorities yesterday.  

They added there was a noticeable decline in the number of drivers who used the application, due to the highly anticipated crackdown by the  Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Road Transport Department (RTD) after the service was declared illegal. 

The application also showed fewer UberX drivers in Kuala Lumpur. 

Malay Mail travelled to hotspots like Bangsar and Taman Tun Dr Ismail to get a ride and spoke to the drivers.

Some refused to talk but a driver, who identified himself as Ahmad, said many drivers opted out of working with UberX. 

The 29-year-old, however, chose to continue as he was convinced there was nothing wrong with the company’s service. 

“What do I have to be afraid of? If I get stopped, I just explain the facts,” he said. 

“I’m a licensed driver attached to a legitimate company providing drivers for hire.”

Ahmad was a private driver for the past four years before he offered his service under UberX’s banner when it was launched some two months ago.

UberX, had in recent days, come under fire by the authorities for resembling a taxi service without a valid taxi permit.

SPAD announced the clampdown would target private and “hire and drive” vehicles used as taxis.

“They don’t seem to understand what Uber does,” Ahmad said. 

“It’s so new here. People keep calling us kereta sapu (illegal taxis), but we are not that.”

“In fact, we are not taxis. We don’t take people who stop us by the roadside. I send a passenger from one specific location to another once I am contacted. 

“Uber just makes the process of getting personal drivers easier and it just happens to be cheaper than taxis.”

Ahmad denied claims private vehicles were being used for the service.

“Whoever is saying that Uber uses private vehicles, I can tell you now that they are lying. None of us use private cars.”

“We’re all drivers. We all have public service vehicle badges. 

“Uber does not own any of the cars but they work with companies that have existing permits for a personal driver service. I just want to make a living,” he said.