Update: The Minister of Tourism wants to make taxi drivers into tourism ambassadors with “basic communication skills”.
TRANSIT could not let this article pass by without posting it and commenting.
The Minister of Tourism wants to make taxi drivers into tourism ambassadors with “basic communication skills”Unfortunately, we are terribly busy with yesterday’s planned post on the recent interview with SPAD about bus transformation – so once again, we will just post the article and try to get our comments updated as soon as possible.
Briton charged RM450 for 10km trip, sparking furore over cheating cabbies (The Star)
Wednesday February 29, 2012
By P. ARUNA
aruna@thestar.com.myPETALING JAYA: An English tourist was charged RM450 for a taxi ride from KL Sentral to the Suria KLCC shopping centre, a distance of less than 10km.
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) said the tourist paid the fare before lodging a report against the driver.
SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said they were investigating and would take action against the taxi driver and the operator.
He said the taxi driver was believed to have threatened the tourist into paying the fee.
“Taxi drivers are our frontliners and ambassadors of the country as they interact with tourists daily.
“We are taking this seriously as it affects the country’s image,” he said after opening SPAD’s new enforcement centre at the Persada Plus here yesterday.
He said SPAD was conducting a study to regulate the pricing mechanism for the taxi coupon system.
“We want feedback from taxi drivers and passengers before proceeding with the study,” he said, adding that there were mixed views about the coupon system.
While some supported it, he said, others saw it as restrictive.
“Some drivers said they would be unable to take passengers if they were not part of the taxi coupon system, while others felt it restrict-ed their movement,” he said, adding that the system was implemented privately by mall and airport operators.
SPAD also announced the purchase of 17 new vehicles, which will be used by its enforcement officers nationwide.
Syed Hamid said the highest number of reports SPAD received were against illegal taxi touts, followed by complaints about overloaded lorries on the road.
In the 3,845 operations conducted since Jan 2010, 74 individuals and operators have been taken to court.
TRANSIT Says:
We will comment soon. In the meantime, please comment in the space below. Oh, and we think TRANSIT has a good plan for reforming the taxi industry. We’ve commented on it in the past on our site. But we have to wonder how many policymakers have actually reviewed it.
Transit Malaysia 
7 replies on “Briton charged RM450 for 10km trip, sparking furore over cheating cabbies (Update #1)”
and they said wanna get rid of the coupon system.
the outcome of this complaint is already out, read today’s NST (online edition)…a measly rm1000 fine for the driver 😦
Monday May 21, 2012
SPAD called to catch rogue taxi drivers
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/5/21/central/11228382&sec=central
Instead of working hard to catch “rogue” taxi drivers, SPAD should work hard to crack down on rogue Ferrari drivers so that no taxi drivers will be killed due to their dangerous driving habits
Coupon system is great, i’m a tourist and it have benefited me… i did get ripped off by at least 2 taxi drivers since been in Malaysia…i’m from the city of Dubai, i think we have one of the best taxi system in the world, i think Malaysia can benefit from the Dubai RTA taxi system model if they adopt it…
I think the good thing is we now have a few apps to hail a cab and give our ratings in real time to SPAD.
The bad thing is no everyone can afford a smartphone.
http://hotelinkl.com.my/blog/7-best-apps-when-travelling-around-kuala-lumpur-with-a-taxi-or-train-theyre-free/
Im hope this taxi driver will be punished even though he is only a drop of water on a hot stone. I have been corned everyday since i am here and i am filled with anger and shame too. Im hope that a solution will be soon found.
It’s quite simple: enforce the damned rules, Malaysia! Drivers don’t use the meters? – fine, or loss of license. It takes ENFORCEMENT from the government level to change anything. If the government behave as corrupt as the drivers, or same level of no concern, then the problem will always be there. There has to be a PUBLIC campaign of catching and fining taxi drivers for abusive, illegal, or rude behavior. The concierges at hotels are getting involved as well now – taking kickbacks for only booking “fixed fares” – since nobody is willing to do anything about it. IS THERE AN ENFORCEMENT BRANCH in the transportation ministry or is there not one?? What is it doing with all these complaints?? “Filing them” in the nearest waste bin? People are simply fed up with this 3rd world taxi system.