Taxi drivers blockaded Jalan Bukit Bintang early this morning in yet another protest against ride-sharing services. The cabbies completely shut down traffic in front of Pavilion shopping centre for several hours before police moved in at 11.30am to force them to leave.
Four people were arrested as a result of the protest, including Malaysian Taxi Driver Transformation Association deputy president Kamarudin Mohd Hussain. Police were also seen impounding several taxis that had refused to clear the roads.
Video sekumpulan pemandu teksi mengadakan protes di Bukit Bintang bantah khidmat #Uber , #GrabCar pic.twitter.com/KN3rZKcXPK
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) March 29, 2016
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has said that it is aware of the situation and is preparing to make an official statement on the matter.
SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar had earlier clarified that the commission was not looking to ban ride sharing apps like Uber and Grab. Instead, the current course of action is to find a way to regulate them as a recent survey showed that a majority of Malaysians prefer these kinds of services over local taxis.
