Taxi associations demand level playing field
TAWAU: Gabungan PersatuanPersatuan Teksi, Kereta Sewa, Limousin Sabah and Labuan wants uniformity with e-hailing services and is urging the government to impose the same conditions on e-hailing drivers, such as GrabCar.
Its chairman Tamrin Eraba said taxi operators wants a level playing field as they are required to have vehicle insurance, personal insurance, medical checks, periodical Puspakom checks and passengers insurance when transporting to other districts.
He also said that e-hailing operators must go for PSV courses, have permanent body marking on their vehicle just like taxis, and to charge the same rate and commission during a peaceful gathering for taxi reforms yesterday that was held simultaneously in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Sarawak and Sabah to hand a memorandum to Transport Minister, Anthony Loke.
Tamrin said, taxi operators have to comply with all the conditions and regulations stipulated by the transport ministry and the Road and Transport Department (JPJ). Hence, e-hailing operators should also have permits, passenger insurance and Puspakom tests and any other conditions just like that required of taxi operators before they can operate.
He said, if taxi service is still relevant, then the government should support taxi operators as the Tawau taxi operators particularly, have experienced drastic reduction in their income due to unfair competition.
Meanwhile, Tawau Persarum Association deputy chairman, Saripudin Tawile, said, what is important is a healthy competition as the taxi association for Tawau including Lahad Datu have a total of 1,166 members and 85 newly approved operators.