Taxi drivers claim losing out to Uber and Grabcar

KUCHING: Kuching Division Bumiputra Taxi Association is complaining that its members are losing business to e-hailing app transportation services.

In Sarawak, e-hailing app services such as Uber and Grabcar which charge their passengers significantly less, are already operating in the capital, Kuching. Uber has been operating here since September last year, while Grabcar started this year.

Speaking to reporters during a break of fast at a local hotel on Friday, Sapawi Mohd Su’ut said the association hopes the government would find a way to help them as they have no other source of income.

He went as far as saying most taxi drivers are losing ‘around 70 per cent’ of their income to their competitors.

“Our future as taxi drivers looks bleak. If nothing is done to help us, we might have to stop working as taxi drivers,” he added.

Sapawi recalled that before this, a taxi driver in Kuching could earn around RM200 a day but after the introduction of e-hailing app transportation services, could earn less than RM100 a day.

He revealed that members of the association and all other taxi associations from Kuching would attempt to meet the government as soon as possible to solve the problem.

They have informally met and spoken to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri during a break-of-fast event and are looking to list out their demands to submit to her soonest.

“One of the best ways is to find ways for us to co-exist. We understand that members of the public have the right to choose their method of public transportation, but we need to earn a living as well,” he said.