The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should set higher fares for ride-sharing services like Uber and GrabCar. At least it should be doing so, according to KLCC taxi operator Big Blue Capital Sdn Bhd. Big Blue Capital’s owner Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail says that this has to be done in the interest of fairness for the rest of the taxi industry.
Shamsubahrin’s reasoning is that the low prices charged by ride-sharing services will kill off budget taxis as the public will opt for the cheaper option. He told reporters during a press conference yesterday, “a fare hike is apt (for Uber, MyTeksi and Grabcar services) as these operators practise ride-sharing compared to the budget taxis which impose fare on one passenger at a time.”
Raising fares is not the only suggestion that was made by the taxi operator, as it also claimed that online service taxis should be registered under the limousine permit, and not the hire-and-drive permit. Mainly as to not affect existing taxi services.
Shamsubahrin is no stranger to rhetoric against ride-sharing services; and occasionally courting trouble with SPAD itself. He had announced that he is looking into bringing a lawsuit against Uber and GrabCar for operating around the KLCC area; an act that he called “trespassing” in his company’s area of operation. The taxi operator had also threatened to sue SPAD for failing to take action against ride-sharing services, although nothing has come of it.
