Transport minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that SPAD is now looking into the details of the creation of an equal platform for all forms of public transport to operate competitively.
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“We are going to deregulate taxis, that means there will be fewer restrictions and regulations like the PSV (public service vehicle licence)”.
Shamsubahrin was responding to reports that the cabinet has decided that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should regulate the e-hailing taxi concept by year-end, paving the way for Uber and Grab auto services to be legalised.
“As a Minister of Tourism, I certainly support this tech initiative for efficient public transport services”.
Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) did not take into consideration the welfare of the taxi drivers when making such a recommendation.
To a question about the Cabinet’s approval to regulate GrabCar and Uber, Liow said certain details still need to be looked at by SPAD.
Explaining the government’s stance behind endorsing and approving these ride-sharing app services, tourism and culture minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said that the decision was mostly influenced by the needs of the people.
Syed Hamid, who is a former minister, said that the decision may see changes in rules and regulations or the implementation of new laws and “the delegation of power”.
It reported that the Cabinet was also satisfied with the move to provide individual taxi permits to conventional taxi drivers who have good and clean track records.
“We’ll make sure that if Uber is legalised by the end of this year, we will give our 100 percent support (to) the new party, Bersatu”, said Big Blue Taxi Services founder Shamsubahrin Ismail in a press conference according to a video by KiniTV today.
There will be necessary amendments to existing laws and possible enactment of new ones for the relevant government agencies to formally legalize Uber and Grab, to be tabled in the next Parliament sitting this November.
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There are some 77,000 registered taxi drivers nationwide at present. Legislation legalizing ride-sharing platforms such as USA -based Uber and Malaysia’s Grab could be presented to parliament as early as November.
