Conventional taxis to have mobile app like Uber and GrabCar

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will carry out transformation of taxi service this year, including by introducing a mobile application for conventional taxis as those used by Uber and GrabCar.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the application would be developed with the cooperation from mobile network service provider in a bid to provide comfort and convenience to the users.

"We will ensure the well being of (conventional) taxi drivers...please trust the government," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.

Abdul Aziz also refuted the allegation that the conventional taxi service in the country was of poor quality, saying that the Uber and GrabCar service had become the preferred choice simply because they were using an easily accessible system.

The taxi service issue became the hot topic of discussion after a group of taxi drivers staged a protest against Uber and GrabCar service last Tuesday, causing major traffic congestion in the city centre.