Taxi drivers want coupon system abolished

KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers here are up in arms again over the coupon system, which they claim is unfair to them.

They want the authorities to abolish the system, which is enforced at several shopping centres and transport hubs, saying it burdens the consumer with higher charges and the driver who has low earnings.

They feel the coupon system on metered taxis has actually led to two systems – a premise charge for the taxis, and also a counter charge.

Additionally, only those registered with the coupon operator are allowed to pick up passengers from the particular spot.

The disgruntled taxi drivers have formed an action committee, said to represent 200 taxi drivers, to push for a meeting with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to resolve the issues affecting their livelihood.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, several members voiced their grievances on the issue.

Citing the system used at the KLCC, they said taxi drivers pay a one-off RM180 registration fee to operate in the area, on top of a RM100 monthly fee.

For using the coupon, passengers are required to pay a RM2 service charge, leading to complaints that the taxi drivers were charging hefty rates.

“Passengers who step into our cabs, local or foreigner, will immediately ask why they have to pay so much when the taxis are already fitted with meters,” said taxi driver Zaki Bashir.

Cabbie Ahmad Jan said taxi drivers sometimes had to struggle to make RM80 a day.

“The time spent queueing up for passengers leads to profit loss in the long run,” he added.

Present at the press conference were MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai) and Tian Chua (Batu).

In a brief statement, SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said they would continue studying whether to retain the coupon system or to raise the starting fee of taxi fares.

“At the same time, we welcome a meeting with the taxi drivers’ action committee,” he said.

Posted by Broadcast.my on Jan 29 2012. Filed under Nation, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry