PETALING JAYA, April 1 — The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will not let up in taking stern action against taxi drivers who insist on charging a flat rate.
“After the increase, we want to cooperate with taxi operators as well as the associations so some form of discipline can be instilled,” he said.
“They need to let us know about members who are not complying with the rules.”
He said SPAD would form a committee with taxi associations to monitor rogue taxi drivers.
“I have asked my head of operations to discuss this with the associations and also how we can improve taxi services after the fare increase,” he said.
He said a joint monitoring system would be more effective as there were too many taxis.
“We listened to their plight and granted higher fares, now they (the associations) also need to monitor their members,” he said.
Syed Hamid was commenting on Malay Mail’s front page report yesterday that highlighted stubborn taxi drivers who charged a flat rate despite the fare hike two weeks ago.
In the two-day exercise, a reporter had visited areas where taxi drivers were known to charge flat rates.
Among the 31 taxis flagged down, four refused to drive to the intended destination, nine charged a flat rate and two wanted to charge between RM20 and RM30 for a 3km ride.
Fourteen drivers charged the old fares as they had yet to recalibrate their meters while only two charged the new rate.
Our photographer Azneal Ishak was forced to pay RM38 for a 400m journey in an orange taxi before he was ordered to get out by the angry taxi driver.
Meanwhile, taxi associations are ready to work with SPAD if the commission follows through with a plan to form a committee.
Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said the association too wanted a better regulated industry and wanted SPAD to be sincere with its move.
“Don’t do it for the sake of persecuting the taxi drivers,” Kamarudin said.
He said the associations did not have the authority to discipline taxi drivers.
“It is SPAD’s job. The most we can do is advise the taxi drivers to follow the rules,” he said.
Kamarudin also said the act of not using the meter, regardless of the reason, was unacceptable.
“There are no excuses to use the flat rate, especially with the recent hike,” he said.
“When a person signs on to become a taxi driver, it is cast in stone that they have to follow the rules and regulations to uphold the industry.”
Echoing the sentiments, Metered Taxi Drivers Task Force chairman Amran Jan said the association could not monitor all taxi drivers.
“But if there is any way SPAD needs us to assist, we are ready to help,” he said.
“We will definitely report the unscrupulous drivers if we have any information. As a task force, we are against taxi drivers who do not use the meter,” he said.
He said the recent fare rise should stop the flat-rate charging.
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