Taxi drivers lodge standardised police reports against SPAD

Several taxi drivers today lodged standardised police reports against the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) for their lack of action in handling the taxi-like Uber issue in Malaysia at the Sentul district police headquarters.

Metered Taxi Drivers Task Force (BBPTB) chairman Amran Jan, said SPAD should take take a more serious approach in protecting the taxi industry in Malaysia.

"SPAD through its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar is aware of the existance of Uber and that its operation violates the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

"SPAD should be responsible in ensuring our welfare (taxi drivers) ,” said Amran soon after lodging the report.

Uber is a ride sharing service which connects passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire through its App.

It has been earlier reported that the Road Transport Department (RTD) together with SPAD and the police (PDRM) will conduct a nationwide crackdown on the Uber service on October 1.

Individuals and companies found operating this taxi-like service could be fined not exceeding RM10,000, imprisonment up to one year or both, if found guilty.

The offences came under Section 16 of the Land Public Transportation Act and Section 23 of the Road Transport Act.

Under the Road Transport Act and Land Public Transportation Act, their vehicles can be impounded and they can be fined between RM1,000 and RM10,000 or jailed up to two years.

The business kicked off as a start-up in San Francisco in 2009.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Uber service was made available last year and can be accessed at https: //www.uber.com/cities/kuala-lumpur.

The Uber Black service uses luxurious sedans such as Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana, and Honda Accord while the uberX provides a lower range service which uses Perodua Myvi, Nissan Almera and Toyota Vios.