KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — Starting Jan 1, Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd will implement the electronic ticketing (Big Blue e-Ticketing) to all taxi drivers under the company’s supervision.

Its adviser, Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said this is to protect passengers from being cheated by unscrupulous taxi drivers by taking a longer route to impose high meter charges.

Through this system, all drivers under the company will no longer use metered charges, but passengers will be charged according to the rates fixed with no hidden charges.

"Passengers no longer have to worry about being cheated by taxi drivers as they (passengers) will be given a receipt of payment in advance before boarding the taxi. The driver’s and vehicle’s data are recorded in the system.

"Users can choose whether to use the budget taxis or executive taxis and can make the preferred method of payment by cash, debit card or credit card at the counters.

"The charge imposed includes insurance coverage to ensure the safety of passengers. However, an additional 50 per cent will be charged during peak hours, which are from 5pm to 8pm,” he told reporters, here today.

Shamsubahrin said so far, Big Blue e-ticketing services is only available at the company’s ticket counter in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and Publika.

The company plans to expand services to other areas such as KL International Airport (KLIA) and Berjaya Times Square.

This was in response to a call by Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to encourage taxi operators to use the ‘e-hailing’ system to compete with vehicle sharing services such as Uber and Grabcar. — Bernama