CM advises taxi associations to create own app to be competitive

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg says he has advised taxi associations in the state to create their own app that will enable them to run their services efficiently.

He disclosed this when officiating at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus’ ‘ Kuching VR’ app at its campus here yesterday.

“Our taxi associations have made it known that they do not want Uber and Grab to operate here. But we cannot say no to Uber or Grab, nor can we stop them.

“So I told them, ‘Why don’t you produce your own app and fi nd a way to run your taxi service which is better than Uber and Grab,” he said.

Fol lowing this discussion, Abang Johari said the taxi associations then accepted his suggestion and would now be looking at ways to create their own e-hailing service app.

Taxi drivers here recently submitted a petition to Abang Johari, hoping that the state government would help them cushion the blow resulting from the operation of Uber and Grab in the state.

The petition, which was signed by 237 taxi drivers, pointed out that the taxi industry in the city had taken a hit since the operation of these e- hailing services and as such, the taxi drivers wanted the state government to do away with some policies regulating the industry.