A taxi operator has been blocking drivers of ride-hailing services like Uber and Grab from picking up passengers at Suria KLCC under the guise of ensuring passenger safety, according to The Sun.
Big Blue Taxi Service founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail told the English language daily that he and his staff have been approaching these drivers and “politely” directed them to designated alternative pick-up points to pick up their passengers instead.
“For example, when they stop at the Ampang Mall entrance [entrance facing Jalan Ampang] to pick passengers, we will ask them to fetch the passengers at the bus stop located at Jalan Ampang but the drop off can still be done within the lobby compound of the mall.
“The objective is because we want ensure the safety of those coming here and leaving considering that there are too many vehicles crossing in the areas as well as making sure the area is traffic free,” he said, adding that his company will continue to do so even after the “e-hailing” services are legalised.
Shamsubahrin also said that drivers will have to register with his services in order to be allowed to pick up passengers from the mall. “The purpose of the registration is to allow us to assist the relevant authorities to track down the driver if anything happens to the passenger during the ride,” he said, adding that the move ensures the safety of passengers.
He also said that while his company has also encountered the problem of taxi drivers returning their vehicles, he managed to solve it almost immediately.
“When they return the taxi to us because they could not afford to pay the rental fee, I offer them employment contracts where they will have a basic salary and ten percent of their total earning in that month as commission,” he said. “Currently, 30% of our taxi drivers are under employment contract and each month they are earning an average of RM3,000.”
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the world is safer with only Uber and Grabcar around! u jokers just GTH
No la.. When Uber and Grab become majority, they also will become like what licensed taxi now. So, just let them compete with each other. Customer untung.
In May 2015, Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail was sentenced to a total of 73 years’ jail for money-laundering and cheating National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) executive chairman executive chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail
I don’t know how he can come here to give a press conference. Should’nt he be in jail? Or does the Prison in Malaysia allow inmates to give press conference?
Or in Malaysia, court can order you to be in Prison but you can go in and out as you like?
Can I advice the IGP to grow some balls and arrest this man? His teksi gangsters are harassing people and making us public so scared.
Remember the Myvi lady that had 10 hooligans ambush her car and threaten her?
This happens everyday to many people.
Nobody make polis report, so cannot act.
To ensure passenger safety? Pui!!!!
How about doing night time road patrol, to ensure social safety??
Don’t flatter yourself!
Its just like toyota continue kirr pipu with their unsafe junks. It shud be a crime but since nobody repot, so polis cant do anything.
Why is this fellow not serving his Prison Sentence?
This shows, if boss can treat Prison like a hotel, all other teksi gangster drivers not scared of PDRM. They also think, Prison is no big deal
Agree. Joke of the day.
Every time fly to KL, I will make sure my phone is equip with UBER app. It is just automatic of me.
Lol so now they become FOC bodyguards? What next? FOC maids?
Premium bodyguard, KLCC >> Bkt Bintang caj RM100….
Rather than advising Grab and Uber drivers about this, why not advise to the taxi drivers to grow up and change the mindset on how to be competitive again, rather than attacking and mogok at the roadside. Business in reality are changing quickly. People prefer practicality rather than they find taxis.
They cheat on foreigners, and they call grab and uber drivers criminal? They are contributing to the country by boosting the tourism. In fact, they are helping the taxis. Once this is legalized, I would still think that the taxi drivers will never change their attitude.
isu ni senang saja. turunkan kadar tambang teksi-bagi permit individu pd pemandu2 teksi, sure2 lagi ramai guna teksi.
uber – each trip is being monitored, both driver and passenger can rate their trip, can make complain, can even ask for refund. cars used for uber are no older than 5 years old.
teksi – nobody monitor each trip, driver doesnt know who is his passenger and passenger have no record who drove him around. if passenger felt cheated he cant make a complain unless he write down the teksi info on a small print on the dashboard, and that is open for abuse since there is no proof that the customer is actually sitting in the car unlike uber where every journey is recorded. even which route the driver drove the passenger can be viewed.
so tell me which one is safer?
then now taxi want uber driver to get a special license and have to go puspakom inspection to equal playing field, if you want equal why not give tax rebate for uber car, toll rebate too… then thats equal playing field.
We hold the world ransom for…
One… Hundred… BILLION… dollars
Dr. Evil is back!
gee, mister thx a bunch!
Datuk taxi gangster.
Why this guy is still not in prison?
Many Malaysians will continue to boycott the lousy Proton taxis with their lousy service and opt for the better and safer foreign cars with way way better customer service.
Dunno. But foreigners prefer to ride in safer Persona2 taxis than private unsafe toyota junks.
As foreigner, I have to let you know we always prefer grab. It’s safe and rates are fair. Drivers are friendly and polite. Moreover in most of cases cars are in excellent condition. Thanks grab
Foreigner who are not familiar will usually grab taxi on sight. Those who are familiar will prefer grab or uber. My experience with taxis, really ridiculous rates and driving skills. Few times almost accident, dont wanna admit fault, then go cursing other driver….
I was in a teksi once, and the driver was racing with another carrying my kolik, weaving in and out of traffic (during jam!), the car has no ABS cuz the brakes were screeching each time he hard brakes everytime and he somehow stops mere CMs from kissing the rear bumpers, he keeps scolding each and every car blocking him and even shows the international finger sign to a few. Best of all the rear seatbelts were hidden behind rear seats so I was rolling at the back. I was still amazed I got out in one piece.
Oh did I mention the taxi I took was in Shanghai?
Wow. Biggest load of crap. That ampang enterance is where all your blue cabs are parked and probably contributes the most to the traffic. Also rather than letting people wait in the shelter of the ampang entrance, you’re asking your potential customers to go cross the road.
True. Then they declare it is safer. XD
is it DR Evil?
Dr. Evil, is that you?
you can direct themselves to go to hell
no one will stop you
I feel safe ride with Uber. Everything is recorded in the app. So, safety is not a good defence point.
A desperate attempt to save his business.
He should just convert his fleet of taxis to uber or grab car taxis, and take a cut from uber or grab.
Whether the current crop of taxi drivers will change their attitude or not is entirely up to them.
If drop-offs can be allowed, why not pick ups?
Ensure passenger safety but taxi driver decline to go to heavy traffic area. Meanwhile uber and grab drivers take passengers wherever they wanna go
Yeah. I’d rather put my effort on getting a Grab/Uber knowing they will always give me the ride I requested (as long as it’s within their business zone) instead of trying to get a taxi but no guarantee you’ll get your ride on the first try. Denying service seems to be a culture in local taxis and I can’t help but must expect that whenever I tried to get one.
Even looking at taxi driver we feel scared already. How?
Dr Evil has been reaping and raping the taxi drivers. How come he never offered to give them incentives? Trying to be goody two shoes when the end is near.
UBER & GRAB are already safer and have there own tracking system, what kind of gangster statement this idiot Datuk has given.
Your taxi services will be disgusting and your drivers will always be unsatisfactory; and your rate will always be higher then grab or uber. So shut up and closeup so called re-blue-pink gangster taxi services .
Contemptible mockery.
Taxi transaction dont have record like grab car or uber… if something bad happens while used their taxi, what proof passenger got? Grab car or uber both side customer and driver have registered their information at least we know who is our driver, car number and phone number and also cheaper than taxi hehe
no freedom of speech here.. my comments never show up.
We don’t condone the use of foul language here.
Ini orang haati manyak busuk dia saja mau senang lain orang lain bagi susah kasi duduk dlm jail diam2 tutup mulut.
These pirates were cheating the public and now pretending to be for the safety of the public!!! Blood suckers. Buying cars at less then 30k and leasing it for a killing. By the way, for Uber or Grab there is the drivers info no need for pirates to pretend.
hahaha… employment contract for taxi? no wonder they are hiding under warong minum teh.
What a smart businessman this datuk.
this botak stops uber and grab from picking up at the entrance. act like a communist just like botak chin.
oh, now i see the similarity.
I am sure to use UBER and GRAB…………..
Is the pick up spot mentioned above consider a public place or under the MALL’s Management?
Public place = Why does any driver need to register with this particular taxis company in order to pick up at the mentioned area?
MALL’s Management = Why is the management of Mall agree to such nonsense, did they rent out their lobby area to these taxis company?
We, the rakyat, will continue to boycott your monopolistic, cronyism, taxi service. We are sick of your thuggish behaviour. We shall laugh 6 months from you, when you file for bankruptcy. You maybe titled Dato but your behaviour is no better than those thugs you hire.
Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, what kind of safety issue you are talking about? I’m completely feel insecure and unsafe taking airport limo each time as I had an bad experience with airport limo. Received phone call harassment from the airport limo driver. It was crazy n I blocked his number. Ladies, please aware of this driver +60126444917.
Nowadays it is against the law, i.e. the Competition Act, to prevent or hinder business competition that would benefit the consumer or rigged/fixing prices of goods & services?
Look at him speaking like a mafia boss. it’s about time consumers stand up and choose a better service. let’s see what other statements he will make when big blue bleeds more money. Its a matter of time, give it 2 more quarters and when all their drivers leave for grab/uber, we won’t see this gangsta no more. #standupforwhatyouthinkisrightthingtodo