Protesting cabbies hand over memoranda to opposition leaders

Banners covering some of the taxis at the rally in Padang Merbok. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Low Han Shaun, November 18, 2015.A group of more than 500 taxi drivers, who had gathered at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur this morning before marching to Parliament, handed over their memoranda to opposition leaders after failing to meet with any government representatives.

The cabbies handed over the memoranda to opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Batu MP Chua Tian Chang who had come out from Parliament to meet them at noon.

The drivers were stopped by police about 300m from the Parliament entrance as they marched from Padang Merbok earlier.

They held a rally today to urge the government to abolish illegal ride-sharing mobile applications and to restructure the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Action Committee (PERS1M) deputy chairman Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said they had planned to hand over the memoranda to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"The memoranda contain our grouses over the failure of SPAD to take care of the welfare of the taxi drivers," he said.

A minister's political aide, however, told the taxi drivers that they could hand over the memoranda when the parlimentary session ends at 4pm today.

The political aide also said that the Prime Minister was not at parliament.

The taxi drivers then said that they would hand over the memoranda to any minister present. However, they only managed to meet with Dr Wan Azizah and Tian Chua.

Dr Wan Azizah said that she would look into their plight.

"We understand the problems faced  by them. I will raise this issue in Parliament," she said.

Tian Chua said the problems faced by the taxi drivers had been around for decades.

"This is not the problem of the taxi drivers. The government is responsible for their issues.

"The problem lies in our transport system that is managed by SPAD which is unprofessional.

"We have repeatedly brought this up in Parliament, but they have not listened to us," he said.

Tian Chua said that he too would raise the issue in Parliament.

"I will bring this memorandum along and debate it at the parliamentary meeting.

"If they don't want to listen, we have other ways, we will have more protest," he said.

Tian Chua said that all taxi drivers deserved to have their own licence and he would assist them in the matter.

"We will continue to fight for the rights of the taxi drivers," he said.

The crowd then dispersed at 12.15pm and headed back to Padang Merbok where the rally seemed to have come to an early end.

Kamarudin said that they had handed over the memoranda to the opposition leaders as no government representatives were present.

"We don't want to make this a political issue. We want both parties to assist the taxi drivers," he said.

Kamarudin also said that they would be initiating legal action against SPAD's top management on November 30.

"We can't take legal action against SPAD as they are a the commission. However, we will be naming SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and the top executives in our suit," he said.

Kamarudin said that if there is still no response from the government then they will organise another gathering around the city.

"We will gather at KLCC and Bukit Bintang. We will discuss the date at our next meeting," he said.

More than 700 taxi drivers from 28 taxi associations took part in the rally which started at 10am at Padang Merbok. The rally was supposed to end at 5pm.

The taxi drivers are frustrated with SPAD for failing to take action against ride-sharing apps such as Uber and GrabCar.

They claimed that the Uber and GrabCar services had affected their earnings.

They also claimed that the cars registered with Uber and GrabCar should not be allowed to ferry passengers as they did not have public vehicle permits.

The taxi drivers had earlier marched around Padang Merbok with their placards calling for Syed Hamid to step down.

Some of the taxi drivers had also placed placards and banners on their vehicles as a sign of protest.

The cabbies on their way to Parliament to hand over two memoranda. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Low Han Shaun, November 18, 2015.They then marched towards Parliament where they had hoped to hand ove the two memoranda.

The rally was organised by PERS1M which had earlier said that 6,000 cabbies were expected to take part. They are demanding for, among others, a restructuring of SPAD and the rejection of applications from Uber and Grabcar, which the taxi drivers claimed had affected their income.

The cabbies had earlier wanted to gather in three areas but subsequently agreed to hold the rally at Padang Merbok following advice from the police.

The taxi drivers holding up banners and placards at the rally. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Low Han Shaun, November 18, 2015.Kuala Lumpur City Hall had refused to grant a permit for the rally in view of the 27th Asean Summit which is taking place from tomorrow to November 22.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had warned the organisers and the participants that they must obey the law and listen to police instructions during the gathering.

He had said action would be taken if the event was found to be provocative.

The Malaysian Taxi Drivers, Limousine & Car Rental Operators Association (Petekma) had also warned its members that it would sack those caught participating in the protest. – November 18, 2015.