Uber, Grabcar cause 30 percent drop in taxi drivers' income

The revenue of taxi drivers in Pahang, including in the district, has dropped by 30 per cent since e-hailing services like Uber and Grabcar were introduced, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

However, he said, the federal government through the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) would assist taxi drivers through the Taxi Industry Transformation Programme (TITP) approved by the Cabinet on Aug 10, last year.

"Through the TITP, there are four basic components to achieve competitive balance between taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers, including the use of technology, namely the e-hailing application, raising income and welfare of existing taxi drivers besides improving the quality of taxi drivers and their services," he said at the Pahang State Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang, here today.

Adnan who was replying to Datuk Wan Salman Wan Ismail (BN-Jengka) said fare rates would be based on fixed rates online.

Meanwhile, replying to a question by Choong Siew Onn (DAP-Tras) on the status of applications to extend land lease to 99 years, Adnan said so far, the state government had approved 1,193 applications for the period January 2013 to June 2017.

"The state government's meeting on March 28, 2012 had approved in principle the conversion of the leasehold tenure period of 30, 60 and 66-years to 99 years for the use of residential buildings at no additional premium, meaning free.

"The government can consider this application, but the initiative must come from the landlord ... no conditions are required to come to the land office, take the form, fill it and submit to the land administrator," he said.

Adnan also chided Sim Chong Siang (PKR-Teruntum) who described the number of applications that had been approved as 'small' for a period of four years saying it was so because many landlords were not aware about the application.

"This is the work of the people's representatives to explain ... meaning the elected representatives have to work hard," he said.

-- BERNAMA