PETALING JAYA, March 18 — Taxi associations say a fare revision is timely and people should not object to the move. 

Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association (PERS1M) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said there was a need to revise the fares due to the increased cost of living. 

“The last price revision was in 2009 and it was the same ever since and taxi drivers find it difficult to make ends meet.”

Kamarudin said although a fare increase could raise a public backlash, it was necessary. 

“In terms of the price hike, no member of the public would be happy with it but is it fair to hold taxi drivers to their old fares?

“Most people have fixed salaries or have annual salary increments and when that happens, the spending also increases, while we have to live with an income set six years ago,” he said. 

Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) took too long to revise the fares.

“We have to maintain the cars and the price of spare parts have increased over the years,” he said.

“If they increased the fares by 10 per cent every two years, then the public will not feel the pinch and taxi drivers too would not feel bad or be questioned over the price hike.”

He said if fares were to be raised, taxi drivers also risked having no business for the next three months.

“People often question the need for an increase but they need to understand we are not trying to kill them with our fares,” he said. 

Kuala Lumpur Sentral Taxi Drivers Association president Badrol Hisham said there was a need to increase the fares as  taxi drivers need a sustainable income, especially with the costs of items about to increase due to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“The price of spare parts will increase when the GST comes into force next month and the cost of fuel is also expected to rise soon,” he said. 

Badrol, however, believed the public would not boycott taxi services as some deem it a daily necessity.

“Taxis are a necessity especially to those who rely on the services to commute to work and people will eventually get used to the new fares,” he said.