Quality service a priority

To win over the public, cabbies must improve, says Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers need to change the public’s perception of the quality of their services if they wish to keep up with e-hailing services in future, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

“I believe a positive perception is possible through basic things like clean and well-maintained vehicles, and a pleasant disposition and manners, other than integrity,” she said before handing out approval letters for individual taxi permits to successful applicants here yesterday.

A total of 300 permits were issued to taxi drivers and rental car drivers after they passed stringent background checks by the police and Road Transport Department.

The permits are a government initiative with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to free taxi drivers from the hire-purchase (pajak) system so they can drive for themselves instead of being “bonded” to the taxi owner.

Nancy, who is the minister in charge of SPAD, said while the Government was serious about regulating e-hailing services, it would not abandon taxi drivers.

“We are trying to help everyone here, including the passengers who utilise all such services,” she said, urging taxi drivers to take advantage of technology and mobile applications, rather than see them as threats.

Regulations on e-hailing services and streamlined conditions for hire purchase agreements are among the issues that will be addressed when the proposed amendments to the Land Public Transport Commission Act 2010 are tabled for second reading in Parliament next month.

On claims by some that acting SPAD chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was “too political” to lead the commission, Nancy said she and SPAD would “work with anyone who becomes chairman”.

“His appointment is the Prime Minister’s prerogative, and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would have a solid reason for it.

“SPAD and myself have no issues working professionally with the new acting chairman,” she said.

Isa, formerly with Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd, was appointed on Monday.