Taxis to continue with new fare despite Cabinet’s directive

KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers are prepared to go head-to-head with the authorities with regards to the fare hike announced by the Land Public Transport Commission.
Despite the directive by the Cabinet to postpone the implementation of the fare hike for public transportation, taxi drivers in the Klang Valley are defiant on using the new rates.
The Metered Taxi Drivers Task Force (BBPTB), a body consisting of 22 taxi associations, has urged its members to continue operating based on the new fares, with about 40% to 50% of its drivers having already recalibrated their meters after SPAD announced the changes last Thursday.
Its chairman, Amran Jan, said this after Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had on Saturday stated that the timing of the fare hike was not right at the moment.
"Almost half of the taxi drivers, from over 6,000 BBPTB members, have recalibrated their meters, spending a full day and some RM160 doing so," he said during a press conference here yesterday.
"I also urge other taxi drivers who have not recalibrated their meters in accordance with the new fare to do so as soon as possible.
"As long as SPAD does not issue any official directive to revert to the old fares, we will stand firm and continue with the current new rate," he added, citing disappointment for the taxi industry, as taxi operators had to bear the increasing costs of living, with the last review by SPAD being six years ago.
Amran added that if SPAD has to conform to the directive by the Cabinet, the association will protest against any such action including taking its taxis off the streets.
"Who will reimburse us if we are ordered to go back to the old rate? In addition to the recalibration charge, we also lost one day's income," he said.
BBPTB also questioned the decision made by the Cabinet and the Deputy Prime Minister after the Prime Minister himself had agreed to the new rates.
Malaysian Taxi Drivers' Transformation Association (PERS1M) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain, who is also a member of BBPTB, said the Cabinet's move to postpone the increase contrasts with the action of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
"If we look back at the latest land public transport regulations, it was signed by Najib. So why is the Cabinet asking for a postponement now?" he said, questioning the contradicting calls on the taxi fares.
Kamarudin also pointed out that come April 1, taxi drivers will be subjected to the 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) for maintenance and spare parts.
"How is it fair that we have to pay GST but can't increase our fares?" he asked.
SPAD had announced on March 19 that taxi and hire car fares will increase by 20% to 40% with immediate effect, while express bus fares will go up 22.6% effective May 15.
The Cabinet however asked SPAD to postpone any such fare hikes, citing wrong timing, with Muhyiddin claiming that the timing was "unsuitable" as it would coincide with the implementation of the GST.