Land Public Transport Commission CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah speaks during the “Urban Transportation Forum – Strategising and Enhancing the Malaysian Urban Public Transport” at the Sunway Hotel today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Wan Asraf, October 6, 2015.Action against transport app Uber is conducted within the boundaries of the law, says Land Public Transport Commission's (SPAD) CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah.
Azharuddin said today despite the private taxi services declared illegal, the commission was committed to find a solution to the problem.
"The services at the moment are not within our legal framework.
"At this stage, we need to find a solution towards this new technology," he told reporters when met after giving a speech at the “Urban Transportation Forum – Strategising and Enhancing the Malaysian Urban Public Transport” in Kuala Lumpur today.
"My officers are doing what is within the law but having said that we understand the solutions provided by Uber and GrabCar and sentiments of the people towards them," he said.
Azharuddin was responding to questions on SPAD's next course of action to track down Uber drivers using the app and to block renewal of road taxes.
"At the end of the day, the people's need comes first," he said.
This comes after theSun's news report yesterday that the transport authority found a new way to apprehend private car owners who offered the taxi services, which authorities declared illegal, without using undercover operations.
Quoting sources, the report said these cars used may be seized for violating Section 16 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010.
Should the private car owner fail to adhere to the first notice to attend an interview and bring the said vehicle, the source added that SPAD would then issue another notice before "utilising all available channels to locate the private vehicle".
Azharuddin also said SPAD was currently working to amend the Land Public Transport Act 2010 to regulate the mobile app providers which has become a medium for public transport services.
He said SPAD planned to table the problem in the next parliamentary session.
Azharuddin reaffirmed the commission's commitment to improve taxi standards in the country as he was aware of many complaints made against taxi drivers.
"My statement will be towards how do we work together and also includes how to improve taxi standards in the country," he said. – October 6, 2015.
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