PETALING JAYA, April 10 — Taxi drivers in the Klang Valley have warned there would be “more surprises” in store as part of their protest against ride-hailing applications.

Several taxi groups said more protests would be held until the government outlaw GrabCar and Uber. 

Association for the Transformation of Malaysian Taxi Drivers (Persim) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said they will not give up until a just decision was reached. 

“Drivers are taking to the streets as we are sick and tired of waiting for the authorities to regulate these ride-hailing applications,” he said.

“There will definitely be more (protests) to come and it will come as a surprise.”  Kamarudin said nearly all taxi drivers were willing to give up their taxis if the government announced taxi drivers would be allowed to drive their private vehicles to ferry passengers.

“We will give up our taxis only if the authorities decide to prioritise us in giving us permits to transport passengers using our own vehicles.”

He said banning Uber and GrabCar indefinitely would solve the problem plaguing the industry.

On Friday, about 500 taxi drivers staged a strike, blocking major roads surrounding KLCC, KL Sentral and Istana Budaya. Some taxi drivers also parked their vehicles near the Lembaga Tabung Haji headquarters in Jalan Tun Razak, blocking at least two lanes in the process. 

They were furious about the RM1 ride promotion by GrabCar. The week-long promotion, which started on Thursday and ends on Wednesday, allows GrabCar passengers to travel for RM1 for the first 5km.

The protest comes ten days after 100 taxi drivers staged a protest in Jalan Bukit Bintang over the same issue. 

Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said protesting was the right way for cabbies to show their disappointment and anger towards the authorities and ride-hailing applications. 

“They are left with no other choice but to stage another strike in hopes of getting the authorities to respond quickly,” he said.

Aslah declined to provide details on future strikes.

“We have been working together with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) since 2010, and six years on, nothing has changed,” he said.

“They would not listen to us and that has led to growing animosity among taxi drivers towards SPAD.

“To make matters worse, Uber and GrabCar are taking all our customers away and we had highlighted this to the authorities,” he said.

Putrajaya and Selangor Taxi Drivers Association president Saari Omar hopes SPAD will come up with a quick solution to their woes. 

“Drivers are protesting to open the eyes of the authorities as we want the matter solved soon. 

“They have been making us wait and there has been no concrete action. 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai called on taxi drivers in the country to be patient and not resort to strikes and protests.

“We have heard you and understand your plight. We acknowledge the playing field is not level as far as taxis service is concerned. 

“All over the world there are issues surrounding the services by Uber and Grabcar,” Liow said.

“Trust the government to come up with a solution which will be fair to all parties. We are in discussion with the relevant parties, including SPAD, and we will make a decision soon,” he said.