Taxi Industry Postpones Partnership With Uber After Taxi Drivers Protested Against It
Taxi coalition GPST was supposed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uber Malaysia yesterday.
By Samantha Khor — 08 Mar 2017, 12:58 PM
The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Uber Malaysia and the Coalition of Taxi Companies and Associations (GPST) has been put on hold following taxi drivers' protest over the proposed collaboration
The signing of the MoU was scheduled to happen yesterday, 7 March.
About 100 taxi drivers gathered in front of Sunway Lagoon club in Petaling Jaya, where the signing was supposed to take place, in protest of GPST's intention to strike an alliance with Uber in a bid to save the taxi industry
According to a report by Free Malaysia Today, some of the taxi drivers who'd joined in the protest claimed that they did not want to cooperate with a "Jewish company" and accused GPST of "selling out" the taxi drivers.
Big Blue Taxi Services founder Shamsubahrin Ismail had previously announced that GPST, who represents major taxi companies like New Supercab, Uptownace dan Sunlight Taxi, will be signing an MOU that will enable some 500 taxi drivers to leverage on Uber's mobile app to increase their income and coverage.
Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Action Committee chairman Zailani Isausuludin expressed regret that the taxi drivers were not consulted before the proposed collaboration was announced
Zailani described the proposed move to team up with Uber as an act of betrayal, saying, "After what we have been through, battling and waging war against Uber app and its drivers for causing hardship to us all this time including our effort of dragging SPAD to court, this is what are coming to - begging to this Jewish capitalist?"
"We were never consulted about this collaboration and we feel like we have been treated like rubbish. This collaboration involves our work and livelihood, why not asking us and explaining it to us first before making the decision," Zailani was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
He added that the committee had also submitted a memorandum to GPST urging the coalition to stop the collaboration and to demand a session to discuss the matter with representatives of taxi associations in the peninsula.
Federal Territory and Selangor Indian Taxi Owners and Drivers Association secretary S. Balakrishnan also demanded for a clear explanation of the partnership to ensure that the decision was not biased
"Explain to us in detail about the commissions, discounts and the procedures involved because we are the ones who drive the taxi. Don't make decisions in total disregard of taxi drivers," Balakrishnan was quoted as saying.
"The operational status of Uber and Grabcar are still not clear as they have yet to be approved by the cabinet," he said, adding that a clear explanation must be given to all taxi drivers in regards to the implementation of the proposed collaboration to ensure that it is not biased.
In the meantime, the signing of the MoU has been postponed to a later unknown date
Big Blue Taxi Services founder Shamsubahrin Ismail has criticised GPST for changing it mind, questioning the coalition for getting intimidated by the protestors made up of "irresponsible taxi drivers".
“The coalition’s decision to put off the MoU shows they are no gentlemen and are not upfront about looking after the welfare of taxi drivers,” Shamsubahrin was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.