“Tak”xi in Penang
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 | 10:34 pm @ SK
Via Bernama:
The Federation of Penang Taxi Drivers Associations, Monday appealed to the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry to postpone the implementation of new fares and use of meters until several "problems" have been sorted out.A member of the federation’s committee Abdul Malek Darus, said taxi drivers in the state wanted to comply with the ministry’s directive on the use of meters and apply the fares set by the government effective today but there had been new developments that could affect the income and welfare of the drivers if they were to do so.
"The ministry should review the fares and postpone their implementation until we reach a consensus," he told Bernama at a taxi stand on Jalan Penang here.
The mandatory use of meters by taxis in Penang had been postponed several times before following taxi drivers’ objection on the fares. The last time it was postponed was on May 1 last year and the implementation was deferred to today.
A year has passed and those so-called "several problems" not been sorted out yet. Worse, the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) was left baffled and puzzled yet not taking any action?
However, the biggest joke part came from Penang Local Government, Traffic Management, Information and Community Relations Committee Chairman Teng Hock Nan, where he said the state government sympathised with the problems faced by taxi drivers but at the same time urged them to cooperate with the authorities.
"I call on them to comply with the ministry’s suggestion and after that we can conduct a study."If the fares are found not reasonable, we can submit an appeal. At least, they will have solid grounds for the fares that have been set to be reviewed," he said.
"But, if taxi fares are too expensive, how many people can use taxis? And this will not solve taxi drivers’ problem."
Hello Mr Teng, are you trying to tell fellow Penangites that you spent the past 365 days to feel sympathised with the problems but not working on solutions?
No wonder public transportation in Penang is just so f**k up.