KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — They wore a frustrated look. None of the taxi drivers, who gathered at a petrol station in Cheras yesterday, were impressed that the Cabinet had requested the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to postpone the implementation of new fares announced last week.
Instead, they vowed to stick to the revised, higher fares announced by SPAD last Thursday, unless it says otherwise.
“Those who have started charging the new fares please continue to do so, and those who have not recalibrated their meters please do so unless SPAD makes an official announcement,” said Metered Taxi Drivers Task Force chairman Amran Jan.
He said the statement by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Saturday to postpone the new fares was not a directive and merely a request.
“We will continue operating (with new fares) and if SPAD decides to take on Muhyiddin’s suggestion, then it is only fair SPAD reimburses the cost spent by us (to recalibrate meters),” he said.
About 100 drivers from 17 taxi associations attended the gathering, which voiced their stand on the revised price hikes.
Some taxis continue to operate with the old fares while others have started charging the revised rates as hundreds of vehicles make a bee-line to recalibrate their meters at recalibration centres followed by inspections at Puspakom centres.
Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association (PERS1M) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said the circular regarding the new taxi fares was signed off by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“If Najib had signed off, why is the Cabinet requesting to postpone the hike?” he asked.
He said the excuse that the announcement was untimely as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was to be implemented on April 1 was baffling.
“The government has been advocating GST, saying it will not be a burden to the people. Now they are requesting not to increase fares so as not to further burden the people following the introduction of GST. It’s confusing,” he said.
