E-hailing drivers should register first — association
KOTA KINABALU: E-hailing service drivers should have registered their vehicles, undergone vehicle inspection and obtained the necessary insurance schemes before they are allowed to operate, following the passing of the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill 2017 and the Commercial Vehicles Licencing Board Act (Amendment) Bill 2017, said West Coast Taxi Association chairman Wong Nyuk Min.
Wong urged the government, specifically the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (MCMC), to block the smartphone applications (app) of e-hailing service providers until Uber and Grab drivers have completed the proper procedures.
He said it was unfair for taxi drivers having to follow the rules and regulation or risk being penalized whereas e-hailing service drivers could still operate without registration with the relevant authorities or undergo the necessary procedures imposed on taxi drivers.
“Since the Parliament has legalized e-hailing services, why doesn’t the government register the drivers first before allowing them to operate?
“These drivers are operating illegally now,” Wong said when commenting on the passing of the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill 2017 and the Commercial Vehicles Licencing Board Act (Amendment) Bill 2017 in the Dewan Rakyat recently.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said among others, e-hailing service providers would be required to register to operate a public service vehicle; undergo compulsory medical check-ups; undergo periodic vehicle inspections; have proper insurance schemes; and display the driver’s identification card.
E-hailing service providers will be given up to one year to adjust to the regulations stipulated under the law.
Wong pointed out that conventional taxi drivers had been marginalized.
He said the government should provide a level playing field for both the taxi drivers and Uber or Grab drivers following the legalization of ehailing service providers.
“Taxi drivers need to apply for a licence, wear uniform and observe the passenger seating capacity.
“We will be fined for not wearing uniform or exceed the seating capacity.”
He added that taxis are required to be 1,500cc and above but many e-hailing service providers were driving a Kancil or Viva.
“But I often see five to six passengers squeezed into a Kancil, Viva or MyVi with their luggage perched on top of their laps. This is dangerous. Why does the government allow this to happen?”
Since the advent of e-hailing service, Wong said the business of taxi drivers had dropped by at least 50 per cent.
“We used to make five to six trips a day, but now we only make two to three trips daily. “We do not know how to survive.” Furthermore, he said e-hailing drivers hardly benefit from the service.
Taking Uber as an example, Wong said only passengers and the company, which imposed a 25 per cent commission, benefitted from the ehailing service.
“For instance, out of the RM10 for a trip to the airport, RM2.5 goes to Uber, RM3 to RM4 for fuel consumption, leaving little for the driver,” he said.