KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should crack down on drivers offering illegal taxi services before it can be relied on to regulate Uber and Grab, the founder of Big Blue Taxi Services challenged today.
Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail claimed there were 18,000 pirate taxi drivers at large, adding that it was a big concern as their law-breaking antics and indiscipline brought disrepute to the industry.
“The problem is not in our industry. The problem is not the laws or the system. It is with these illegal activities by taxi drivers. They have no discipline at all. SPAD should clean up first and tighten enforcement,” he told a news conference at Big Blue Taxi’s office here.
The businessman also said he was opposed to Uber and Grab, the two ride-sharing firms that are reportedly to be legalised by year end.
He said the Cabinet’s approval of Uber and Grab to be regulated by SPAD, as reported by several news outlets yesterday, would not solve the problem of unruly taxi drivers.
“I never said Uber cannot come, just not now. I urged SPAD to clean up these drivers,” he added.
It was reported yesterday that the Cabinet made its decision after a presentation by SPAD CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah, during which he proposed an overhaul of the traditional taxi industry.
Eleven initiatives were laid out including a proposal to transform the industry with improvements to the Teksi 1Malaysia model, and providing individual taxi permits to drivers with clean track records.
SPAD aims to table a Bill on the legalisation of Uber and Grab during the Parliament meeting in November.
