Cabinet approves Uber and GrabCar, taxi operators unhappy

Taxi service operators are up in arms over the government's decision to legalise Uber and GrabCar services.

Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) did not take into consideration the welfare of the taxi drivers when making such a recommendation.

"If they want to improve on taxi services, SPAD should discuss with the taxi operators first before making any reform or taking action," he said in response to the Cabinet's decision to approve Uber and GrabCar services last Wednesday.

The decision was made after SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah presented a working paper on Uber and GrabCar.

Aslah, who has been in the taxi industry for the past 50 years, said the presence of Uber and GrabCar in this country was due to SPAD's weak enforcement and ambiguous regulations.

Big Blue Capital (M) Sdn Bhd adviser Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said the government made the decision in haste without studying the implications on taxi drivers and the industry.

"The decision has made us, taxi drivers, unhappy... don't do this just because of a few problematic taxi drivers," he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Shamsubahrin urged the government to resolve the taxi issue before allowing Uber and GrabCar to operate legally.