Does Anyone Still Want To Use Taxis?

Yesterday, as I was slurping up some Wan Tan Mee for brunch, I read what may have been one of the worst suggestions ever made regarding our 'dear' Malaysian taxis. As I'm sure most Malaysians, and a few unlucky tourists, know, we've been having problems with our local taxi drivers, what with the lack of using the meters, refusal to send passengers to certain areas, and of course, marking up the fare. :x

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="262" caption="Malaysian Taxi (from Getty Images)"][/caption]

So, in The Star paper yesterday (Wednesday, 1st April 2009), a short article by Lester Kong was highlighting these rogue taxi drivers. The Road Transport Department, better known as JPJ, was going to "send show-cause letters to 612 taxi drivers", demanding them to respond within three weeks in regards to their "offenses of not using meters, overcharging, not displaying their driver cards and refusing to pick up passengers." Would you believe that a JPJ operation showed that only 15 out of 627 drivers followed these regulations? It definitely explains the mistrust we have towards Malaysian taxi drivers in general.

Anyway, the article continued on with some suggestions on curbing this irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour, and here is the suggestion that I mentioned earlier. "Taxi drivers and associations have suggested to the Government to increase the starting meter fare from RM2 to RM4 if they want taxi drivers to behave."

What the hell??!!

Do you know what that sounds like? It's like asking the public to pay the taxi drivers so that they would behave. It's like, "Hey, I'll give you two additional ringgit if you'd switch on your meter and send me here during the most jammed time." It's like what Malays often do to little children to get them to start fasting, i.e. a ringgit for each day they fast. Are they going to try and use it to the snatch-thieves as well? "Let's give all snatch-thieves RM5 so that they won't harm the public anymore."

Look, regardless how much you raise the starting meter, it would not work. What's the point of gaining an extra measly RM2 when you can gain at least RM5 to RM10 more by overcharging passengers or putting a fixed rate to go somewhere? I had one taxi driver asking me to pay him RM25 for a journey from KLCC to Lake Garden without his meter. Hello??!! I doubt the journey costs that much.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="204" caption="Malaysian Taxi Driver (from www.daylife.com)"][/caption]

Moving on, one of the interviewed taxi drivers claimed that the starting meter rate was set 13 years ago and that it should be reviewed as prices for most other goods and services were raised parallel to the economic growth. Personally, the rate that should be increased is the rate per kilometer, not the starting meter fare. That, in my opinion, is more fair and makes much more sense what with our up-and-down petrol prices, wear-and-tear of the taxi and other factors that I won't go through here.

Look, there's always a root to every problem. Based on the articles, voiced-out opinions and forums I read, the root is so diverse and points to many directions. Some say the taxi drivers' moral values should be questioned for using such underhanded tricks. Others point the finger of blame to the taxi companies that imposed high rates for the lease and permit on the drivers, a number which they are unable to meet. Then, of course, there's the story (which I don't know is true or not so don't ask me) that the private taxi companies are owned by 'cronies of certain organizations'. A few people complain that the Government is at fault because the public is suffering by paying these 'additional rates', not the Government, thus the reason why the Government is not reacting. So, which is the root of the problem? All or them? None of them?

Whatever it is, I think it is best for the moment to avoid taking unscrupulous taxi drivers. If the taxi driver refuses to use a meter, refuse to ride with him. He'll then have to waste precious time and wait for another passenger to consider using his service. At the airport, PLEASE take the taxis that use the coupon system, not the ones that hound you as soon as you leave the arrival hall. Be safe.