In revealing the TITP to the media, SPAD confirmed to theSun in an exclusive report last week on Cabinet approval to allow Uber and Grab services to be part of taxi industry by year-end after the legislation amendments in November.
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Uber company officials say they are looking into the incident. This grant will be in addition to other financial assistance.
The issuance of individual taxi permits was frozen since 2010, with the exception of Teksi 1Malaysia.
“The lease system has created a lot of problems and unhappiness among drivers”.
The source explained that at present some taxi drivers were forced to pay the daily rental rates stated in their agreements, regardless of whether they were unable to work due to sickness or when they had to take their taxis for mandatory regulatory checks. “We set up a taxi industry laboratory and gathered feedback from taxi associations, taxi companies, e-hailing providers and vehicle manufacturers”, he said yesterday. “It’s just showing that we’re second class compared to them”.
Speaking of a new vehicle, taxi license holders will have much wider options, as vehicle models for taxis will be liberalised – no longer limited to select models like the Proton Exora and Toyota Innova.
UberX, which has regular drivers transporting people in their private cars, lacks the regulation and oversight of traditional taxi companies.
The base fare for Uber will increase by 75 cents to $3.25.
A Taxi Driver Accreditation Programme will be implemented to imbue a service culture, encompassing four modules – taxi driver orientation programme, unleashing entrepreneurship in taxi drivers, treatment of passengers and safety/maintenance.
Taxi rental contracts will be standardised, with operators to include a rent-free day for Puspakom inspection, annual and sick leave, first party vehicle insurance and deposit refund at the end of the contract.
“We recognise that the e-hailing services are here to stay, so we are giving taxi drivers the opportunity to be involved in e-hailing, too”.
The source explained that with taxi drivers now being able to opt for metered taxis or e-hailing taxi services, or both, taxi companies would have to change how they operated to ensure their survival. Those drivers must also have a SPAD-approved driver identification card.
This will include health, criminal and traffic offence checks.
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As the legislation passed, members of the United Taxi Workers’ Association were getting ready for a peaceful protest in front of the East York Civic Centre office on Wednesday morning calling for staff to enforce the city’s new bylaw against Uber.
