SPAD improving taxi services

1,600 APPLICANTS: Good response to liberalisation of taxi permits

THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has implemented measures proposed under the Taxi Industry Transformation Programme.

The measures involved those which do not require amendments to the law by Parliament, namely the liberalisation of taxi permits to individual drivers under the pajak (leasing) contracting model.

“With 1,600 applications to date since Sept 1, this initiative continues to be well-received by taxi drivers.

“This is because it provides successful applicants the liberty to decide on the business model that best suits them for better control of their economic destinies,” SPAD said yesterday.

On e-hailing, the commission said it had already taken action to get relevant laws amended after consulting the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Transport.

“Upon finalisation, the proposed amendments will be presented to the cabinet prior to the bill being tabled in Parliament for approval.

“We have been advised that this is expected to be concluded by the first quarter of next year.”

SPAD said that once the amendments to the law were passed by Parliament, it would implement and regulate the e-hailing system.

On Monday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai urged SPAD to speed up law amendments to regulate Uber and Grab in an effort to provide an equal platform for the new ride-sharing services and local taxis.

Liow said there was a need to regulate Uber and Grab because there were no laws governing them and to create an equal platform for the parties, including taxis.

He said the law had yet to be in place so that was why there were some hiccups and delays, adding that he was aware of complaints from taxi drivers who were unhappy with the emergence of the ride-sharing services.