Taxi drivers object to GPST's collaboration with Uber

Approximately 100 taxi drivers on Tuesday staged a protest against the proposed collaboration between Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat-Syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia (GPST) and Uber Malaysia for GPST taxis to adopt the use of Uber application.

The protest was held in front of Sunway Lagoon club here where the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties was scheduled to be held.

The signing ceremony, however, was postponed to an unknown date.

Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Action Committee chairman Zailani Isausuludin said he regretted that no discussion was convened with the taxi drivers before GPST announced the collaboration.

"This collaboration involves our work and livelihood, why not asking us and explaining it to us first before making the decision," he told reporters here, yesterday.

Zailani said the committee had also submitted a memorandum to the GPST, urging the association to stop the collaboration, besides demanding a session to discuss the matter with representatives of taxi associations in the peninsula.

Meanwhile, Federal Territory and Selangor Indian Taxi Owners and Drivers Association secretary S. Balakrishnan said a clear explanation must given to all taxi drivers in the implementation of any efforts affecting them to ensure that the decision was not biased.

"Explain to us in detail about the commissions, discounts and the procedures involved because we are the ones who drive the taxi. Don't make decisions in total disregard of taxi drivers.

"The operational status of Uber and Grabcar are still not clear (as they have yet to be approved by the Cabinet)," he said.

Yesterday, the media reported that GPST would collaborate with Malaysian Uber for all taxi driver to start using Uber application in stages.

In August 2016, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) suggested taxi drivers to use the e-hailing system similar to Uber and Grabcar as a new initiative through the Taxi Industry Transformation Program (TITP).

-- Bernama