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With the government’s latest proposal to abolish the public service license for taxi service providers, it isn’t just the taxi industry that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has up in arms – driving institute operators are feeling the pinch too.

“First it is PSV and next, we won’t be surprised if SPAD and the government will remove the responsibility of driving schools for carrying out goods driving licences (GDL) training,” Johor Driving Institute Association secretary Teoh Kock Kee told The Sun.

Teoh said driving institutes have contributed significantly to commercial service drivers’ road safety skills and level of service. “For many years, we have been working closely with the Road Transport Department (RTD). Besides, we have improved many aspects of training for taxi, bus and lorry drivers at our facilities,” he said.

“We are concerned if SPAD has the experience and aptitude to train cabbies on the right temperament and behaviour,” said Malaysian Driving Industry Standards and Modernisation Council (Mapim) president Datuk Hanafi Mat Zin, who questioned SPAD’s ability to facilitate proper training in this area.

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On the other side of the fare-paying coin, a public transport advocate has approved of the proposed move by SPAD. “There was hardly anything to gain from the briefing and driving instructions at driving school, and some of the (learner) drivers that failed the objective test somehow managed to get their PSV licenses,” said Y.S. Chan, who enrolled for a PSV course in 2000.

Instead of stopping at just the abolishment of the PSV license, he said it should be replaced with a new mechanism such as a specific license for all drivers who carry fare-paying passengers. As it stands currently, all Malaysians above 21 and with a valid driving licence have to apply for a PSV licence from JPJ before they can drive a bus or taxi.

The Sun learned that SPAD has proposed to abolish the PSV licence only for taxi and app-based e-hailing drivers, and will replace it with a SPAD driver’s card system. Training, if any, will be provided in-house by the taxi or app companies. This proposal is among 11 points under the e-hailing and transformation for taxi industry models being considered by the Cabinet, which includes the legalisation and regulation of Uber and Grab.

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