Action on cabbies today
9 JUNE 2014 @ 10:54 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: THE integrated operation against errant taxi drivers in the city begins today, with police warning that they have come up with a plan to put an end to such woes.
While operations against errant cabbies have been conducted before, they invariably involved the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Road Transport Department (RTD).
This time, however, the police force has not only been roped in, but put in charge of Op BBKLCC.
Federal traffic police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Mohd Fuad Abd Latif said yesterday the force had devised a strategy to tackle the problem of cabbies in the city who, among other things, refused to use the meter, overcharged customers and preferred to ferry foreigners for "extra" income.
However, he declined to discuss the strategy.
Fuad said the issue of errant cabbies was long-standing, and police would work with SPAD, RTD and City Hall to solve the problem.
He said SPAD and RTD had been working hard to solve the problem and had taken action against errant drivers before.
"For this operation, they (SPAD and RTD) have entrusted us to lead and we have come up with a strategy to identify errant cabbies.
"We don't want tourists or locals to be threatened or cheated by errant drivers.
"We understand that the taxi drivers usually wait at tourist spots, where they can make money.
"But, Kuala Lumpur is a big city and they should not rely on one spot to make a profit," he told the New Straits Times.
Fuad said there were limited parking bays in the areas around Bukit Bintang, and the KLCC and Pavilion malls, so taxi drivers should queue up and take turns to get passengers.
He said taxi drivers had the moral obligation to uphold the good name of the country and, thus, should adhere to the country's rules and regulations.
He said offenders could be charged under Section 48 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (obstruction by vehicle on road), adding that drivers could be arrested if they threatened or physically harmed the authorities.
SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal said the commission would take action against 33 errant cabbies, who had violated the law by participating in a demonstration in Bukit Bintang here on Wednesday.
He said SPAD was working with police and RTD to identify other cabbies who had taken part in the protest, which had caused a massive traffic congestion.
"The taxi drivers parked their vehicles along the roads in the area, disrupting public order and obstructing (traffic flow).
"SPAD will take action against the taxi drivers who had flouted the law by suspending or revoking their licences."
Nur Ismal said all taxi and public transport drivers should not participate in any demonstration, as it was against the law.
On Saturday, Bistari Taxi Association chairman Mohamed Asharaf Yasin said cabbies would hold a demonstration after Op BBKLCC.
However, he said it would be held only if the authorities declined to have a discussion with the cabbies.
The operation targets errant taxi drivers in the city who do not use the meter, overcharge passengers and prefer taking foreign customers for ‘extra’ income
