Taxi drivers in Penang have let the nation down

I’M travelling around the world with my 10-year-old daughter. We have visited many places on our way to Penang and have never had cause to complain about any of the locations we have visited.

In fact, so far Penang would be very near the top of our favourite destinations in the world; we really love Malaysia, and Penang in particular. Except for one thing that lets Penang, and indeed all of Malaysia, down — its taxis.

Being British, I find it very difficult when every taxi clearly states on the side that it “is a metered taxi and no haggling is allowed” only to find that not one single taxi driver has ever accepted my business as a metered fare.

They all offer their services at vastly inflated rates and refuse point blank to use the meter: “No, Sir, no one uses the meter here.”

As a tourist, it’s very difficult to travel in any location with small children without occasionally needing a taxi.

It leaves a sour taste in the mouth when all the taxis have a meter which drivers refuse to use and we are charged arbitrary rates that would not be out of place in many UK cities.

In all my travels around the world, I have rarely been made to feel more consistently abused and angry as a tourist as I have here with Penang’s taxis.

Believe me, a friend of Malaysia, it makes me very sad to say, but coming from Bangkok where taxis are now well managed and all use the meter, my experience of Penang taxis makes Malaysia look like a backward, Third World nation which I know is absolutely not the case. Penang, your taxis really let you down!

JULIAN WILFORD, Rickmansworth, UK.