On Tuesday (29th March), some 100 taxi drivers staged a huge protest at Bukit Bintang against ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab. The protest proved effective because the government will now be looking into solving the problem.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated in his blog, NajibRazak.com, that a “fair and just” policy solution will be announced in the “near future”.
He assured that the government will not be in favour any one party on the matter and the new policy will have to consider other elements like innovation, competition, and technological advancements.
“I understand and am concerned about the problems and complaints of the cabbies that see Uber and Grab services as cutting into their source of income. In this era of sophistication and innovation, we have to keep pace with technological developments. Competition has to be seen as a stepping stone, not an obstacle, so the public can enjoy the best possible service,” said the Prime Minister.
Najib urged both parties to not act on their emotions and take extreme measures like a massive street protest again as it will only worsen the situation and tarnish their reputation. He also praised the police for their quick action in taking control of the traffic conditions.
In another report, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that public taxi drivers should improve their services to compete with ride-hailing apps. He told reporters that the ministry has received numerous complaints from both locals and tourists about poor taxi services which forced them to choose Uber or Grab.
It was reported that the protest happened due to the recent decision made by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) about approving services provided by ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab.
The original post by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can be found in his official blog.
Sources: The Star, NST, Bernama.
