I am writing now, a few moments after the incident (4:30pm)

At around 3:15pm; After my friend dropped me off from office, I saw a yellow coloured taxi waiting by the Star LRT station in masjid jamek.

I opened the door and the obese taxi driver gave the "who the hell are you look", when I told him; the destination. He nodded and I got on the passenger seat next to him.

His meter was stil running at  RM5.30 when he moved 2 paces forward; I told him in bahasa that his meter was running. He goes ‘ Oh…. and then reset it back to for hire status".

As we moved forward along the round about joining Jalan Meru, I told the driver that it’s too hot (since his air-condition was struggling); and asked him to turn it off and ushered him to draw the window down.

As I turned towards my door to gear the window down, the man shouted out in Malay " Hello friend, we now going slow so the aircon won’t work". Just as he finished his sentence, to I found the window knob in my hand detached.

I looked shocked turning towards him! The stupid thing was glued on!!

He looks at me infuriated and yells, " Where you from!!!"

I reply pissed, "Orang Malaysia LAH!!"

I quote: "You bukan orang malaysia lah, memang Pakistan…. kalau orang Malaysia bukan korang ajar" Translation: – “You are not Malaysian, you must be from Pakistan, hence why you are ill mannered", the cab driver geld.

I felt so intimidated, mind you this guy is like 4 of me put together, and I think I’m over weight!!

Intimidated, I yelled back; "Stop this taxi right now; I have had enough of you!"

I stopped muttering, "Ill-mannered" in Bahsa.

While he was stopping I was looking for a driver identification card – none. I opened the door first to make room for my escape, with intention to pay him as I was out but before I could step out he grabbed my arm and said "PAY!"

I quickly took my wallet  out and paid him 2.50 and stepped out.

I was on the side of the Jalan Meru highway. Smack in the middle.

The obese animal sped off, before I could gather my thoughts to take down his car lisence number.

I walked the entire Jalan Kuching till I could see The Mall. Crossed the road and walked up to a small hill to join into an intersection.

I WALKED all the way to Jalan Ipoh cursing all yellow cabs.

===============
I am a lawyer:
- Professional Misconduct
-Battery
-Verbal assault
-Racist slander

> Anymore to add?

I am a proud Malaysian with a paternal Arabic decent. I may look like a middle eastern, but that’s not how you should treat a foreigner or local regardless.

I am deeply offended, thinking; this is where my tax money goes??

Charges RM35/hour for 0 – 5 hours; RM30/hour for 5 – 10 hours; RM25/hour for 10+ hours
that includes waiting and tolls

Tell him Ruth from Washington or Maria from Los Angeles sent you

Posted by: jensitaim, 12-Oct-2006

I would like to bring the attention to the public despite of what government rules, there are a group of taxi drivers at Kelana Jaya LRT who decided to fix the rate charges instead of using meter. Eg, from LRT to Kelana Business Centre, rate is fix at RM5.00. And they have their own community. Those taxi drivers who are not belong to there "click", the taxi community there will chase them out. This thing has been ongoing for sometimes. Even though we have alerted the LPKP, yet there is no action to it. Hope the righteous authority will take action to the "click of taxi driver" which stationed themselves at Kelana Jaya LRT station. 

Comments:

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I just took a taxi from Kelana Jaya LRT station to Taman Bukit Mayang an hour ago, I was charged an extravagant RM6 for a mere 5 minutes ride. It is less than 1 km short trip. I want to confirm the comment above that there is a ‘click’ of taxi drivers at the station who decide the rate. When I insisted on using the meter, several of them stood up and told me the charge is fixed at RM6 and no way I can bargain. I asked to reduce it to RM5 instead and all of them just don’t bother me. It’s a take it or leave it. As I have really no choice and no say, I just have to agree. It seems like the taxi drivers are really daring to group up together by not using the meters. When I asked why not use the meter, they replied nonchalantly, ‘Waiting taxis charges are fixed, Taman Bukit Mayang rate is RM6. You want to pay RM5 can, unless we drop you at Dataran Prima.’ Well, they win this time and more times to come, unless of course, the authority take steadfast action.

 
By cheesjen, 26-Dec-2007

Source The Star Online : http://blog.thestar.com.my/comments.asp?id=6843#comment

Our taxi drivers are supposed to use their meters which they often don’t, citing "meter rosak", the near distance, the lack of customers, traffic jams, etc. Only God knows the rationale of some of their ridiculous excuses. If we disagree, we may be threatened with bodily harm, especially if we are already in the taxis. Isn’t this a more pressing issue that the CVLB should address?

Why is it necessary to "negotiate" with the taxi drivers before getting into a taxi? Taxis are supposed to get us to our destinations at a rate measured by the compulsory meters installed in them. Is this not the system the CVLB sees it? Though tourists who look Caucasian are the ones commonly ripped off, the locals are victims on many occasions too.

Why do many taxi drivers position their taxis in front of "lucrative locations" like shopping malls and other well patronised locations and then choose their customers? They need to just rip off a few customers who are in a hurry, or who do not know the actual rate or who are intimidated into paying the "extorted" rates.

The driving habits of taxi drivers leave much to be desired too. Speeding (on the pretext of not making enough to earn their keep), not signalling their intentions and queue-cutting (this seems to be their most common sin) are some of their most obvious road etiquette misdemeanours that can turn ugly if the other drivers don’t give way.

Some taxis are really dirty and smelly inside. The drivers claim that they have no time to clean their cars because they are renting on a shift basis. The taxi is being used 24/7 until it breaks down because the owner (who may not even be a taxi driver himself!) wants maximum returns from his vehicle.

For many years now, the CVLB have resorted to various plans to "catch" the culprits who are siad to be giving the taxi industry a bad name but as all goverment plans go, the are only hangat-hangat tahi ayam. Nothing substantial has been done and we are back to square one. The CVLB needs to make some noises to show that their officers are doing something "serious" to support the Visit Malaysia Year.  And they have chosen to implement the drivers’ uniform! Bravo!

Bet your last dollar that this will taper off too.

But what I am most disappointed is the lack of an integrated approach to the problem to tackle the problem as a whole instead of addressing an insignificant part of the big problem. If your vehicle behaves as though it is going to break down and your mechanic advises you to change a tyre, how do you feel? That mechanic is the CVLB.

Pak Lah, you said you have big ears. Now, do listen to this from all the long-suffering citizens.

Turning a curve where the road splits with a flyover (1) checked for on-coming cars – no cars, good (2) signal right to turn into middle lane to get on the flyover (3) gradually cut into the middle lane ……. WHOA! Suddenly there’s a taxi behind me flashing & honking. The driver must have drove pretty fast as I did not see the taxi earlier prior turning into the middle lane.

Startled, I could only maintain my position (1/3 into the middle lane @ ~50km/h), while the taxi squeezed past honking at me. Upset, I honked back & woe-&-behold, the taxi does an emergency brake in front of me. …….. I’m driving a 1.3 auto – how fast can I go?, especially after the scare.

Odd – the taxi was being driven like it’s being chased by hell, now it’s decided to play a tortise game – slowed down drastically trying to pi*s me off. Again, how fast can a 1.3 auto go (without momentum) ?

So, tum-de-dum, I followed it’s rear but another fear crept up in me – what if this guy is a serious nut case who will attack me ? Too many cases had been highlighted especially after a lady was reported kidnapped from her office yesterday (around the corner from where I work) ……..

Luckily the taxi sped off after Kelana Jaya Giant shopping centre. Whew! But still, my heart was pumping real fast.

Managed to note down some taxi details – HB 9328 Red & White proton vehicle. Tried to log this case with the relevant ministries / service industries but no luck (some sites provided links to lodge complaints but "Proxy error", "Web page not found").

I agree – enforcement is EXTREMELY lacking while the focus is on trifle issues. I wouldn’t mind if the taxi drivers don’t look good as long as the basic service is fulfilled. When Malaysia has got the basics right, then would we look on cosmetic improvements.

Let’s do a No Taxi Campaign for a month. Since these people are already so notorious for their service, and there’s no enforcement of the regulations, we citizens have to take matter into our own hands.

Or put up a website that features Black Listed Taxi Drivers.