Rais calls taxi drivers country's social diplomats

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today described taxi drivers and owners as the country's social diplomats and said they must develop a good personality to go with that role.

He said they could play a positive role by showing greater courtesy and gratitude and adhering to noble values.

As such, it was important for taxi drivers and owners to put on a pleasant personality that could help society attain a praiseworthy civilisation, he told reporters at the presentation of group insurance claims under the 1Malaysia People's Taxi (TR1MA) at the Perdana Auditorium in Angkasapuri here.

"Like it or not, taxi drivers are representative of all kinds of behaviour in the cities when they communicate with and transport passengers," he said.

Rais said it was necessary to educate some of the taxi drivers and owners to enable them have a good opinion of things.

Rais, who is the patron of the Pertubuhan Teksi Malaysia, said the organisation and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) would seek to enhance the insurance scheme.

He also gave the assurance that the processing of claims for the group insurance would be expedited.

"We will assist them towards speeding up the claims process," he said. At today's event, the next-of-kin of 10 taxi drivers who had died received the claims.