Over 3,000 taxi drivers are expected to take part in tomorrow's gathering at Padang Merbok to demand for, among others, a restructuring of the Public Land Transport Commission and the rejection of applications from Uber and Grabcar, which the taxi drivers claim have affected their income. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 17, 2015. Police will take stern action against the organisers and participants of the peaceful gathering of taxi drivers at Padang Merbok tomorrow if the event was found to be provocative.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the organisers and the participants must obey the law and listen to police instructions during the gathering.
"If they disobey the instructions, the police will take the necessary action to maintain public order and safety," he told Bernama here today.
Meanwhile, Klang Valley Taxi Driver Action Committee supervisor Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said the committee would heed the advice of Dang Wangi police chief to keep the gathering contained within Padang Merbok.
"Although our permit application was not approved by the police, we still seek the police's help in controlling the situation to prevent any provocations which could cause chaos," he said when contacted.
Kamarudin said over 3,000 participants were expected to join the gathering to demand for, among others, a restructuring of the Public Land Transport Commission (SPAD) and the rejection of applications from Uber and Grabcar, which the taxi drivers claimed had affected their income.
Taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur have said they will proceed with the protest tomorrow even without City Hall's approval.
Meanwhile, The Star Online today reported that the Malaysian Taxi Drivers, Limousine & Car Rental Operators Association (Petekma) has warned its members that it would sack those caught participating in tomorrow’s protest.
"If a Petekma member is found to be at an illegal gathering, disciplinary action will be taken, including sacking that person," Petekma president Mohd Syahrir Abdul Aziz told reporters at the SPAD office here Tuesday.
Petekma claims to have some 9,000 members in the Klang Valley.
Bumiputera Taxi Operator Association is also against the protest, with its president Datuk Mohd Alias Abdul saying that although he wanted to see the industry change for the better, the protest was not going to help, especially as it would coincide with the opening of the 27th Asean Summit and give taxi drivers in KL a bad name.
When asked to comment on Syahrir's threat of sacking Petekma members, Kamarudin said: "Let him say what he wants." – Bernama, November 17, 2015.
Comments
Please refrain from nicknames or comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature, or you may risk being blocked from commenting in our website. We encourage commenters to use their real names as their username. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments.