KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Taxi Drivers Transformation Association (Pers1m) has urged the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to disband the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
Its deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Husain said all matters pertaining to licensing and enforcement that were under the jurisdiction of the commission should be handed back to the Transport Ministry or the Road Transport Department (RTD).
“The SPAD had failed to adress the bureaucracy issue that has been long faced by the taxi service industry since the establishment of the commission in 2010.
“None of the programmes introduced benefit the drivers and passengers, including the study programme that was supposedly meant for us,” he said when contacted today.
Kamarudin said according to the Land Public Transport Act 2010, all vehicles including private service providers such as taxis were required to comply with the Act.
“However, SPAD had kept mum over the issue on e-hailing services Grab.
“We accept the existence of Grab service, but the drivers’ background should be screened to prevent untoward incidents or crime such as rape and robbery,” he said.
Kamarudin however said he welcomed healthy competition with the presence of the Grab service.
“But first, it needs to sort out various issues, including insurance, public service vehicle (PSV) licenses, permits, drivers’ dress code, and Puspakom’s (Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre) checks,” he said.
He suggested that Grab service fare to be regulated by the government.
“The government should also establish an app so that Grab divers do not depend on the manufacturer’s application,” he added.
Kamaruddin said in his meeting with Dr Mahathir at the Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana di Cyberjaya, Dr Mahathir had promised to review the implementation of the Grab service in Msalaysia in order to be able to comply with the rules towards a better service.
“I hope the prime minister will study and review the existing laws to upgrade the quality of taxi services and to improve the welfare of the drivers,” he said.