The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is considering legalising ride-hailing services such as Grab and Uber, but not every one is happy with that decision.
Taxi drivers are threatening to go on a strike for 6 consecutive days as a result of the move, led by Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association (PERS1M)’s president, Kamaruddin Mohd Hussain.
While no protest date has been set, Kamaruddin is sure that “it will take place” no matter what. He continued, “Tension between taxi drivers and the ride-hailing services continues to escalate. The goal of the strike is to show the government that the taxi industry is suffering because of the unfair playing field.”
Apart from losing customers to the mushrooming ride-hailing services, taxi drivers also claim that they were unable to compete healthily with the former as they were bound by licensing and regulatory requirements set by SPAD.
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Kamaruddin also revealed that taxi drivers are extremely unhappy with the cabinet’s decision to legalise the services, explaining that it has caused enough harm to their businesses.
The decision to possibly regulate Grab and Uber instead of banning them came on Thursday (11th August), with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai stating that the traditional taxi industry will be deregulated if the move is approved.
A press conference detailing information about the legalisation process is expected to be held by SPAD this week.
Source: Paultan.
