Taxi associations at odds over protest

KUALA LUMPUR: Two taxi associations are at odds over the action of taxi drivers who staged a walkout at a dialogue with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Langkawi yesterday.

One of the associations lambasted the taxi drivers for being disrespectful, while the other stood by the action of the disgruntled cabbies.

Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd adviser Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail described the taxi drivers as unprofessional.

Their unruly action, said Shamsubahrin, painted a bad image of the taxi industry.

“It’s sabotage. Those involved (in the walkout) are groups that are not in favour of Pakatan Harapan.

“If I attended the event, I would be professional and talk politely when expressing my dissatisfaction,” he told the New Straits Times Press.

Shamsubahrin said the taxi drivers should not be rude to Dr Mahathir as he attended the dialogue to seek solutions for them.

“They should be thankful to the prime minister instead.”

Association for the Transformation of Malaysian Taxi Drivers (Persim) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain urged all parties to understand the root cause of the problem and avoid finger-pointing.

While agreeing that they should not have acted that way, Kamarudin said he understood the feelings of the taxi drivers.

“I do not blame them for their action at the event. Instead, we should understand the sentiment of the taxi drivers, who were oppressed under the previous regime.”

In the 14th General Election, he said, taxi associations and their drivers had pledged support for Pakatan Harapan for agreeing to voice their woes.

“Instead of being disappointed with the action of the group of taxi drivers, Dr Mahathir should be disappointed with (the poor performance) of his cabinet, especially Transport Minister Anthony Loke.”