This is another success story for us! we have more taxis than some of the biggest or famous cities in the world.
For reader’s info – Population of the cities (year): New York (19.5 mil, 2009) , London (7.75 mil, 2009), Sydney (4.57 mil, 2010), Hong Kong (7 mil, 2009), Jakarta (9.58 mil, 2010) against Klang Valley (7.65 mil)?
Within one year, we have 10,000 extra taxis.
And I wonder, how many of the taxi drivers are Malaysians.
Of course, some will say a taxi permit doesn’t translate into a taxi or that some taxis are for designated areas (KLIA for example).
Are there too many taxis in the Klang Valley? Pose this question to any public transport-user who has experienced spending hours attempting to flag down a cab on a rainy Sunday night, and there’s a good chance you’ll be met with a disbelieving look.
Yet, the figures don’t lie. The Klang Valley has more taxis on its streets than even one of the world’s busiest capitals, New York City.
As of March, the Klang Valley is currently home to 37,000 budget as well as executive taxis. This puts New York City’s 13,237 world-famous yellow cabs well in the shade.
Figures compiled by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), the independent regulator for public transport, reveal that the Klang Valley’s taxi-to-passenger ratio also tops that of other bustling capital cities such as London, Sydney, Hong Kong and even Jakarta.
However the commission tasked with overseeing the country’s public transport demands, faces a monumental challenge on its hands, not just due to logistics problems but that of greed.
Since assuming the reins this year, SPAD has had to fend off numerous approaches for even more taxi permits.
The requests, said SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, come from all quarters, including politicians.
He described the situation as nothing short of a “dilemma”.
“Despite the already high numbers, we are still receiving requests to approve new taxi permits from various groups.
“These include associations, retirees and even politicians,” he told The Malay Mail.
Industry analysts have been quick to point out that the massive number of taxis in the Klang Valley has been a major contributor towards the deterioration of taxi services.
They noted that the burgeoning number of cabs have added to unhealthy practices such as complacency and lack of commitment among taxi companies to provide better service.
Syed Hamid, meanwhile, said the commission was aware of the grouses and problems.
“We are aware of the public outcry with the current taxi service in the Klang Valley. The commission wants to make it a win-win situation for the public as well as taxi operators. We want to uphold professionalism within the industry via the National Public Transport Policy Framework and the Greater Kuala Lumpur – Klang Valley Public Transport Masterplan that will be unveiled in September.”
Syed Hamid said improving taxi service should be based on the laws of supply and demand.
“We hope to address the issue of oversupply of permits gradually in the coming years through the PTMP. The master plan includes training for taxi drivers and ensuring a high level of service efficiency, as part of the terms and conditions.
“We expect the taxi operators to fully operate with us on these matters.”
When asked if the commission would reduce the number of taxis in the Klang Valley, he said: “What had been given, we cannot withdraw. But this does not mean we won’t come down hard on indisciplined and problematic taxi drivers. We won’t hesitate to revoke their permits and licences.”
Big number but poor service
AN industry analyst, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that based on research, the high number of taxis in Klang Valley have contributed greatly to the deterioration of service, increased level of unhealthy practice which includes the complacency and level of commitment to run a taxi service.
“By looking at the taxis outnumbering those in other cities which include New York and Hong Kong, we wonder why our taxi service is not even close to the standard of the New York City icon – the yellow cabs,” he said.
“Over there, it is easy to hail a cab as they always move around the city and rarely stay put in one place.”
However, he said, the impression of taxi service in Kuala Lumpur was a different story altogether.
Commonplace among the grouses are difficulty in getting taxis in the city, hailing them by the roadside, the deplorable service quality and cabbies’ refusal to serve certain areas including central KL as well as refusing to use the meter by imposing flat rates.
“It is difficult to board or even hail a taxi during peak hours and we also often hear complaints of taxis overcharging and snubbing passengers.
“There’s no denying the fact that oversupply of taxis has led to the attitude problem of haggling and the existence of touts in public transport terminals, shopping malls and other public places,” said the analyst, who is all too familiar with the taxi industry after being in it for the last 25 years.
‘Stop issuing permits’
TAXI associations are pleading with the government to stop giving out new taxi permits in view of the high number of taxis on Klang Valley roads.
Malaysian Taxi, Limousine and Hired Car Drivers and Operators Association (Petekma) president Yusof Lahir, hoped the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) would be firm in addressing the issue of taxi permits oversupply.
“I urged SPAD to please stop giving out new permits if we want to reach the level of taxi service in New York, Hong Kong or Singapore. We are already facing an outpour of taxis on the road lately.
“This problem is also contributing to the lackadaisical attitude among the taxi drivers which includes refusing to serve certain routes,” he said.
Yusof said the teething problem of the oversupply of permits stemmed from the system of awarding permits over the years from the previous governing bodies.
“It was an open secret that previous authorities served the socio-economic objectives which were apparently abused by influential politicians which led to the present state of affairs of so many ‘unnecessary’ permits. I had voiced this previously to various ministers. Now we can see the effect of so many taxis around,” he said.
On taxi touts in public transport terminals and at KL International Airport, Yusof said the high number of taxis and lax enforcement contributed to the matter.
“The government should look into enforcement very seriously. I won’t deny the fact that attitude problems by some drivers have smeared the industry, but enforcement should keep this in check.”
Koperasi Pengangkutan Putrajaya dan Cyberjaya Berhad secretary Mohd Salleh Mat Zain, said he was surprised to learn the number of taxis have increased dramatically since last year.
“In 2010, the number of taxis stood at 27,000 and it was tough for us to ‘cari makan’. Today, there are 10,000 more so you can imagine the competition. The over surge of taxis has also contributed to the forming of cliques where some of them have monopolised some suburban areas,” he said.
He also concurred with the call for the government to regulate the industry and take stringent measures to raise the level of professionalism among the taxi drivers.
“The taxi industry is staring at a bubble with torrent of taxi permits over the years.
“We have seen how taxi drivers refuse to use meters, haggling passengers and prefer to ply specific routes instead of going out to seek customers in the city.”
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