GEORGE TOWN, March 4 ― Seeking to expand its service to touristy Penang, MyTeksi is offering rides around the island half of the northern state at only RM5 this month.
MyTeksi city manager Loh Ji Yuan said Penang taxies have a bad reputation of overcharging and refusing to use the meter for many years, and hoped the promotion would be able to change public perception.
“MyTeksi rate is 20 per cent lower than other taxies so we hope to change the negative perception against taxies with this promotion,” he said in a press conference launching the special promotion at the Esplanade this morning.
MyTeksi is a taxi-dispatch service enhanced with GPS that enables passengers to book rides through a smartphone app.
MyTeksi started in Penang last April and since then, saw 900 per cent increase in bookings since its launch, Loh said.
The special RM5 rate applies for rides around the clock for any bookings made through the MyTeksi app, but only on the island side of the state and not its mainland half, he added.
Loh said MyTeksi not only provide cheaper rides, passengers will be able to know the costs of a ride as the total price, calculated based on distance, will be shown when they book through the app.
“This will solve all problems of having to haggle for a reasonable price whenever a passenger takes a cab” Loh said.
He added that there is also a safety factor where passengers will know who their drivers are and they can even share the ride they booked with their friends and relatives.
There are about 3,000 registered taxies in Penang and one out of three taxies here are under MyTeksi.
MyTeksi also serves in Klang Valley and Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Johor Bahru and Kuching.
