Press Digest: Slap on the wrist not enough to stop errant cabbies

PETALING JAYA: Many taxi drivers said lax enforcement has made it possible for the black sheep in the industry to taint the reputation of the country's taxi service.
Kuala Lumpur Taxi Workers Association chairman Choo Swee Keong said the Road Transport Department (RTD) and Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) only slap errant taxi drivers with a fine, which is not sufficient to deter them from repeating their offences.
Choo told Sin Chew Daily this on Friday when asked to comment on the daily’s report on the same day that Londoncabs.co.uk has put Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) on top of its list of top 10 countries with the worst taxi drivers in the world.
He said the problem with many cabbies in the city is that they do not follow the meter.
"If errant cabbies hauled up by the authorities are only slapped with a fine, how do we expect them to be scared and not to commit the same offences again?" asked Choo.
He said the enforcement authorities must be tough with the black sheep among cabbies, including suspending their Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences.
Choo proposed a three-month suspension of their PSV licences for the first offence; a six-month suspension for the second offence; and the revocation of their licences for committing the same offence the third time.
Asked if the MyTeksi mobile app would help enhance the attitude of taxi drivers in the country, Choo said the application only helps boost their incomes but would not change their attitude unless the authorities are strict in their enforcement.
Choo said most members of the association are using the Radio Cab service and only about 20% of them have joined the MyTeksi programme.
A Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association consultant who did not want to be named also said the fines slapped on errant cabbies will not deter them from repeating the same mistakes.
SPAD should consider emulating Singapore in suspending the driving licences of errant taxi drivers in order to improve the image of our taxi service.
According to Londoncabs.co.uk, Kuala Lumpur cabbies are well known for overcharging clients and detouring.