The Land Transport Vehicle Commission (SPAD) has advised taxi drivers to reflect on why the public prefers to use ride-sharing apps. Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said that these drivers should stop complaining and instead reflect on their own behaviour.
Tan Sri Syed’s comments come after weeks of protests and complaints from taxi drivers lead by PERS1M. These drivers have been asking SPAD to clamp down on ride-sharing apps, although the commission’s perceived lack of action has caused cabbies in the heart of of Kuala Lumpur to take matters into their own hands. PERS1M has also been calling for SPAD to ban the ride-sharing apps themselves.
SPAD is unable to take action against Uber and GrabCar due to the fact that the services are applications, and do not fall under the purview of the commission. Tan Sri Syed said that only the MCMC would be able ban the applications. He also said that SPAD is not the only body that is capable of taking action against Uber and GrabCar drivers; the Road Transport Department (JPJ) also has jurisdiction over the vehicles.
“Why do they only focus on us? We cannot politicise this matter,” said Tan Sri Syed.
He believes that a majority of taxi drivers are not concerned with ride-sharing apps, and are simply getting on with their jobs. It is instead a small portion of taxis who are banding together to voice their displeasure.
Tan Sri Syed also questioned the status of PERS1M. He claimed that he was not aware of the existence of such an organisation, and was not convinced that it was registered body.
[Source: Malaysiakini]
