The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had seized 55 private vehicles used as unlicensed taxis in the Klang Valley since October 2014, said enforcement department head Datuk Paduka Che Hasni Che Ahmad. Another 89 cases were also detected in the same period, The Star reports.
Speaking after leading an enforcement team that is part of Ops Serkap at Pudu Sentral last week, Che Hasni noted that many were getting customers using smartphone applications.
“Using a smartphone application does not mean that they can become a taxi driver. The vehicle is illegal and does not have a permit issued by SPAD, which means there is no insurance coverage for passengers,” he said.
This will be welcomed by taxi drivers, some of whom staged a second protest against private driver apps such as GrabCar and Uber last week. Some claimed that their income had dropped by more than half since the MyTeksi-owned GrabCar service was introduced.
MyTeksi responded by saying that it was willing to discuss the matter with its pool of taxi drivers and regulators such as the Transport Ministry and SPAD to relook current laws and regulations. A MyTeksi rep added that the company’s internal studies showed that a taxi driver can earn up to RM3,120 a month if signed up with MyTeksi, which the cabbies refuted.
SPAD stressed then that the use of private vehicles to carry fare-paying passengers is an offence under the Land Public Transport Act 2010. It also cautioned that drivers of any vehicle who collect fares must have the Public Service Licence, while the vehicle itself must be licensed by SPAD with proper insurance coverage for the protection of fare-paying passengers.
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Collect fares? This is the loophole where uber gained advantage. There is no cash transaction involved
The car is not marked as a taxi or uber. Spad has to release the car back because the charges are baseless
And how many taxis NOT using meter have SPAD catch?
None? Really? So now I can approach any taxi, and guarantee they’ll use meter?
SPAD. It’s run by SPUDs really.
Oh wait, don’t insult potatoes. At least those are useful unlike SPAD. A joke really these fellas.
dont u ever insult french fries infront of me..EVER!
Why SPAD keep mentioning no insurance coverage bla bla bla….?
What if I’m willing to give up the so called “insurance coverage” when I take Uber? Uber is a safer taxi than the conventional taxi.
So what if they inspect their car every 6 months? Look at the condition of the car. So SPAD, you can continue to be in your denial stage, but stop doing nonsense things and really start thinking how to improve the conventional taxi drastically.
I’m curious about the insurance claim.
You mean I can’t claim my OWN PA or Life if I get hurt, maimed of die in an UBER car?
If I can, so whats the big fuss over insurance????
So who is a insurance rep here to clarify?
I would be willing to bet my life that the UBER Black D segment sedans are very muh safer than the old decrepid Proton Iswaras. Besides, those cars are run by Limo companies so they are legal anyway.
These alternative car services have flourished due to poor enforcement by SPAD. This likely due to the majority of taxi licences being held by politically connected individuals or corporations. This has led to our taxi chaps “misbehaving” and taking liberties with their service. Why do they do this? Well its the high charges of renting the taxi and taxi license. The car service guys should start recruiting cabbies and give them a shot at a decent living.
about those taxi drivers who claimed their income has dropped to half, i tell you what… why not you work harder.
or else, if u want to work smart… join uber. customer will find u instead of you going round n round looking for passengers
SPAD state Uber is illegal and jeopardize passenger, in meanwhile malaysia taxis services is load of crap and bad reputation internationally. Better to finish than to stubbornly run until you can’t take another step.
Malaysia is plagued by this “the country owes me” attitude. When things do not go their way, they don’t rectify it by using their heads. Instead, there’s always something or somebody at fault and it’s always the minority.
SPAD only listens to the minority. There are the majority of us who would out number these taxi drivers.Think and act SPAD…Don’t be a puppet..!!
Both SPAD and malaysia cab drivers can go die… Bloody idiots! How many times we need to tell you why we keep raging idiots? Dont let us keep rage on…first stop ur nasi lemak management… Second, pls die!
Why don’t we all boycott the taxis? Let them taste their own medicine.
we should go to where these thugs do their protest and stage our own against them so that it will be covered in the media as well…
then again but who doesnt know about taxi in malaysia? even foreign media also know.. apparently spad or spud or whatever they call it not for some reason…
SPAD, please control your driver first before catching other drivers!
Just look at these thugs. I will not even sit in their car even if it was free of charge.