KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — Putrajaya and Cyberjaya taxi drivers are adamant on sticking to the zonal coupon system around the administrative capital and cyber city despite the fare increase for metered taxis four weeks ago.
Putrajaya and Selangor Visionary Taxi Drivers Association chairman Saari Omar said cabbies were unhappy that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had directed them to use meters from April 1.
He claimed passengers, mainly civil servants, were not pleased that the zonal coupon system was no longer applicable.
“SPAD instructed us to remove the zonal coupon system and to only use meters beginning April 1. Our income has been adversely affected the past 10 days because of this directive,” Saari said yesterday.
He said cabbies at Putrajaya Sentral had adopted a new method to recover loses by charging customers RM2 upfront in addition to the meter charge.
“It makes our customers unhappy and we feel it is unfair for SPAD to insist that we must use the meter around Putrajaya,” said Saari, adding the association had sent a memorandum on the matter to the Federal Territories Minister on February 5.
He also said if Putrajaya and Cyberjaya cabbies were allowed to return to the zonal coupon system, the charge should be in accordance with the new meter rates.
SPAD chief executive officer Nur Ismal Kamal confirmed the zonal coupon system was only applicable for four locations in Klang Valley since early this year.
“Only KLIA, KLIA2, Subang Skypark and KL Sentral are allowed to use the system since these places are international entry points,” said Nur Ismal.
He said the commission had written to the association last November ordering Putrajaya Sentral cabbies to cease using the system.
“After all, Putrajaya taxis are metered and cabbies should adhere to the permit regulations. Furthermore, there has been a fare increase from March 19.
“We also discovered the zonal coupon system at Putrajaya Sentral is almost double the rate charged by metered cabs,” said Nur Ismal.
