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- Taxi company serving KLCC tells Hamid Albar to quit for failure to address cab w …
A major taxi company operating in the city centre today urged Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar to resign, saying he has failed in implementing the transformation of the public transport system.
Premium Big Blue, which serves the Kuala Lumpur City Centre expressed disappointment that SPAD had yet to solve the problems faced by passengers and cab drivers not only in Kuala Lumpur but also nationwide.
"Until now, the problems associated with taxi service still remain, passengers are often duped due to cab drivers' refusal to use the metre and the dilapidated condition of the vehicle.
"I see more (SPAD) enforcers' cars but as for the action, SPAD's enforcement is very weak and not strict in reforming the system," said the company's founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail today.
Shamsubahrin questioned Syed Hamid's capabilities, alleging that he had never gone down to the ground and speak to the grassroots on taxi woes.
"There is a lot of problems with the taxi system but Syed Hamid has never gone down to the ground to get a clearer picture.
"All Syed Hamid seems to be interested in is to go down to the ground and visit the Mass Rapid Transit construction areas," said Shamsubahrin, adding that Syed Hamid's "favourite haunt", the KLCC, is riddled with the problem of cabbies who do not use metres.
"If Syed Hamid is incapable of changing the public transport system for the better, he should just resign and let someone do the job," Shamsubahrin said.
Shamsubahrin said his company has fulfilled the trust given to them by the KLCC management in providing better taxi service.
"The success of my company over the past five years stems from the fact that we altered the image of taxi services in terms of cleanliness and honesty to the customers," said Shamsubahrin, whose company has been operating for over five years, adding that it was being wooed by City Hall (DBKL) to manage taxi stands which have not been running smoothly.
Shamsubahrin also criticised the attitude of SPAD enforcement officers for failing to play their roles properly.
He said in some cases, SPAD officers behaved like gangsters.
"There was one case in Johor where a SPAD enforcement officer behaved like a gangster when he pulled over a taxi driver.
"If they want to issue a summons or compound, then by all means, do so. Let the courts decide whether it was right or wrong to issue the compound.
"But is there a need to resort to violence?" he asked, adding that no action was taken despite many police reports lodged.
He said due to this, many taxi drivers viewed SPAD officers with contempt.
"For example, in the KLCC area, SPAD officers only hang around for about 10 minutes before leaving. How do you expect taxi drivers to be afraid?" he asked.
He said SPAD should get rid of budget taxis as they were no longer relevant.
"If budget taxis are replaced by premium taxis, it will help taxi drivers to increase their income," Shamsubahrin argued.
"At the same time, passengers get to ride in comfort. Actually, passengers do not mind paying a little more as long as the service commensurates the fare." – February 19, 2014.
