KUALA LUMPUR: By recognising Uber, the government would create a free-for-all situation allowing all private cars to be used as taxis, but are Malaysians really willing to take the risk of riding in unlicensed taxis?
This was the question posed by SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, when confronted by the issue of an online petition “Save Uber Malaysia” aimed at retaining the Uber services in the country
“We are a free country, but I think you must focus on issues - if you petition to allow them that means you are petitioning for something not just Uber, but for private cars to be used as taxis.
“That means you are going into a regime saying taxis don’t need a licence. What if an accident occurs? Do the people need this?,” he told reporters.
The petition also urged the government to look for ways to monitor the service as an alternative to taxi services.
Hamid reminded the public that Uber, which is a foreign company, was also facing a lot of licensing issues in many other countries.