MALAYSIAN TAXIES

[GaryinSydney]

It's almost impossible to be a mat saleh tourist in KL and get the taxi driver to use the meter

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

4,000 cabbies to be tourism’s driving force
Wednesday February 29, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...759&sec=nation



Bonjour: Dr Ng sharing a light moment with French tourist Vincent Pinatel, his
wife Anne and their children Margot (standing) and Romain during her visit to
the covered walkway from KLCC to Pavilion yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: About 4,000 taxi drivers in the Klang Valley will be appointed tourism taxi ambassadors in an effort to enhance the service industry and promote the country.

The move followed complaints from tourists about taxi drivers, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She added that the pilot project was to provide the drivers with “capacity building” to understand their roles better in nation-building.

“This is part of the Government’s initiative under the Malaysian Tourism Transformation Plan to achieve RM168bil in tourism revenue and 36 million tourists by 2020,” she said after visiting the covered walkway between the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Dr Ng said the ministry would collaborate with taxi associations and ask them to recommend drivers who could become tourism taxi ambassadors.

“The taxi must be clean, the driver must possess basic communication skills and not smoke while driving,” she added.

Dr Ng said the taxi drivers would be briefed on various new tourism products and government initiatives. They would also have to attend a one-day course.

“The training will be made for batches of 100 people each, which will begin in the middle of March,” she added.

The taxi drivers will be monitored for six months after the course and the selection will be done by a panel comprising taxi associations representatives, Land Public Transport Com*******mission (SPAD) and the ministry.

At a separate event, Dr Ng launched the 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale that will be held from March 10-April 15.

The events that will be held in conjunction with the GP Sale are the Malaysia International Shoe Festival (March 29-April 1), F1 Race Day (March 23-25) and the Fourth Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (March 15-18).

How about this..macam Iklan Pepsi Pakistan

[allurban]

Originally Posted by nazrey

4,000 cabbies to be tourism’s driving force
Wednesday February 29, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...759&sec=nation
“The taxi must be clean, the driver must possess basic communication skills and not smoke while driving,” she added.

Wow, basic communication skills & do not smoke while driving ... some "ambassador."

I wonder if the minister expects the same from her driver? Probably would not accept such a driver. Why should the standards be different for her?

Cheers, m

[Aquaglas]

Originally Posted by GaryinSydney

It's almost impossible to be a mat saleh tourist in KL and get the taxi driver to use the meter

Yes and no

From my experience I noticed that mat salleh only get really ripped off (= pay more than locals) at a few tourist/key transport spots.

At certain spots (some Malls, LRT & KTM stations, Puduraya etc.) even locals will not get drivers to turn on meters. They will always ask for fixed price and do not necessarily discern between races. Those places can easily be identified with groups of cabbies hanging out and being over-friendly to ask people for their destination.

The key is always to move away from these hotspots and just stand at the next road/around the corner and flag down a cab. The chance is 85% that they will use the meter. Even in Bukit Bintang as a "no meter area" you can have success that way.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Aquaglas

Yes and no

From my experience I noticed that mat salleh only get really ripped off (= pay more than locals) at a few tourist/key transport spots.

At certain spots (some Malls, LRT & KTM stations, Puduraya etc.) even locals will not get drivers to turn on meters. They will always ask for fixed price and do not necessarily discern between races. Those places can easily be identified with groups of cabbies hanging out and being over-friendly to ask people for their destination.

The key is always to move away from these hotspots and just stand at the next road/around the corner and flag down a cab. The chance is 85% that they will use the meter. Even in Bukit Bintang as a "no meter area" you can have success that way.

Agreed.

I also taught my student a technique that works about 65% of the time ... negotiate the fare by a position of strength ... instead of asking for the fare, offer to pay a certain amount...if you know the fare is going to be RM10, offer RM5, then negotiate up to RM10. Otherwise, they will start at RM20 for an RM10 fare.

Cheers, m

[nazrey]

DPM hints at ‘gift’ for taxi drivers and taxi owners
By DERRICK VINESH Updated: Thursday April 5, 2012 MYT 1:16:54 PM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=451

SUNGAI PETANI: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has hinted that a gift is in store for the 40,000-odd taxi drivers and taxi owners in the country.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would make an announcement on it soon.

“Our Prime Minister always has our taxi drivers and taxi owners in his heart.

“Just last week, he asked me what else can be done to help our taxi drivers and operators further,” he said during a special gathering for taxi drivers, taxi owners and smalltime businessmen in Taman Ria Jaya here Thursday.

Without elaborating the details, he merely said that the announcement would be a new offer to taxi drivers and operators nationwide.

On another matter, the deputy prime minister also said that the government was serious and committed in doubling the per capita income to USD19,000 (RM58,282) by 2020.

He said in striving to achieve the goal, the government would not burden the people with rising costs while fulfilling its promises.

"The Barisan government continuously think of ways and efforts to help the people, even the 2012 Budget lined-up various aid and measures in the interest of the people.

"The income target must be doubled in the next eight years," he told Bernama.

Muhyiddin is on a day-long visit to Sungai Petani, Gurun and Alor Setar with a special meeting with small traders and taxi drivers in Taman Ria.

Following that, he is scheduled to meet farmers' leaders in Kedah at the NPK Fertiliser factory in Gurun.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, will then head to Alor Setar for a meeting with communities from Chinese and Tamil national-type schools in Kedah at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Keat Hwa 2.

His visit ends with a gathering with fishermen at the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) Complex in Kuala Kedah.

[nazrey]

SPAD studies taxi industry to improve quality of service
Friday - April 6th, 2012
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04...ty-of-service/

THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is conducting a thorough study on the taxi industry to improve the quality of its services in Malaysia.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the scope of study will be named the Taxi Improvement Plan which covers several essential aspects.

“The aspects are to determine a balance between service supply and demand as well as identify the potential of combining licence classes to ensure optimum taxi usage.

“Creating a special mechanism or method to review and check fare rates , and setting up a complete database for taxi drivers,” he said in a written reply to R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) at the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

Sivarasa had wanted to know whether the government had plans to revoke all taxi permits issued to companies in clusters and offer taxi permits only to individual taxi drivers.

Ahmad Maslan said other aspects included identifying the use of suitable technology such as infotainment screens, global positioning systems (GPS) and WiFi for efficient taxi operations.

He said they will also look into a design and specification for a taxi that can be used by disabled passengers.

“We will also study the possibility of a special protection scheme through Socso or others for driver welfare.

“Besides that, the study also considers the issue of giving taxi permits to companies as well as individuals,” he said.

Ahmad Maslan said the report was expected to be completed by October 2012 and will be used to help SPAD identify demand and determine optimum taxi offers.

He added that the government through SPAD has frozen new applications for budget taxi permits and rental cars for companies and individuals starting Jan 1, 2010. — Bernama

[nazrey]

Dua pemandu teksi naikkan tambang didenda
2012/04/26
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/ar...idenda/Article

KUALA LUMPUR: Dua pemandu teksi hari ini didenda antara RM400 hingga RM1,000 oleh Mahkamah Majistret di sini selepas mengaku bersalah menuntut bayaran tambang melebihi kadar yang ditetapkan.

J Elanggo, 30, pemandu teksi eksekutif, didenda RM1,000 atau sebulan penjara jika gagal membayar denda itu kerana menuntut kadar tambang melebihi yang ditetapkan iaitu sebanyak RM459.20 bagi dua pelancong Britian berbanding kadar yang ditunjukkan di meter teksi sebanyak RM8 iaitu lebihan RM451.20.
Elanggo didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu di Jalan Imbi berhadapan Hotel Regency Dorsett di sini pada 1.59 petang, 8 Februari lalu.

Ahmad Osman, 53, pula didenda RM400 atau empat hari penjara jika gagal membayar denda itu kerana meminta bayaran RM8 bagi empat penumpang berbanding kadar yang ditunjukkan pada meter RM4.80, iaitu lebihan sebanyak RM3.20 semasa memandu teksi dari LRT Sentul Timur ke Taman Dato' Senu pada 6.37 petang, 30 November 2011.

Kedua-dua mereka adalah pemandu teksi pertama yang didakwa mengikut Seksyen 75(1) Akta Pengangkutan Awam Darat 2010, dan dijatuhi hukuman mengikut Seksyen 75(4) akta sama yang memperuntukkan hukuman denda maksimum RM50,000 atau penjara tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya, jika sabit kesalahan.

Majistret Nurdiana Mohd Nazari menjatuhkan hukuman itu selepas mereka mengaku bersalah terhadap pertuduhan masing-masing.

Mengikut fakta kes, Elanggo membawa dua pelancong warga Britain, Evelyn Irene dan suaminya, Rex Alan Frank bagi perjalanan dari sekitar KLCC, Jalan Ampang hingga ke Hotel Regency Dorsett, Jalan Imbi.

Sepanjang perjalanan dalam teksi tersebut, Evelyn mendapati meter teksi berkenaan dipasang dan menyedari tertera di meter itu RM8 sewaktu tiba di persimpangan Chulan Square.

Bagaimanapun, Elanggo memadam jumlah yang tertera dan meminta bayaran daripada mereka secara paksa sebanyak RM459.20 dan kemudian menyerahkan sekeping resit yang tercatat Taxi & Limo Service dengan kadar tambang tersebut.

Kedua-dua kes dikendalikan Pegawai Pendakwa Nom Phot Prackdit manakala Elanggo diwakili peguam N Satgurunathan dan Ahmad tidak diwakili peguam. - BERNAMA

[nazrey]

MyTeksi service launched
Updated: Tuesday June 5, 2012 MYT 6:12:26 PM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202



Syed Hamid with Comfort taxi drivers after launching the Myteksi Passenger
Application at Sime Darby Convention Centre on Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MyTeksi launched on Tuesday will provide services with GPS enhancements that will enable taxi passengers to get efficient and effective service.

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said through the MyTeksi, passengers would be able to get taxi services through short messaging service (SMS) and smart phone applications.

"This initiative is part of efforts to improve the public transport system to fulfill the National Key Results Area (NKRA) programmes and Economic Transformation Programmes (ETP) initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"MyTeksi also involves 20 taxi service companies which cater to about 8,000 taxi drivers and the move is seen as an effort to revive the industry.

"The MyTeksi will also help SPAD because all the date used by taxi companies can be obtained for collecting data," he told reporters at the launch of the MyTeksi at the Sime Darby Convention Centre here.

MyTeksi is an initiative developed by MyTeksi Sdn Bhd with participation from Comfort Communication Sdn Bhd (Comfort Taxi) and Maxis through its GPS service as well as I-phone and SMS applications.

Syed Hamid said the initiative would not only improve the quality of service but provide fast, safe and easy rides for passengers.

Meanwhile, Comfort Communication Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Aslah Abdullah said there are about 27,000 taxi drivers in the Klang valley. - Bernama

MyTeksi launches enhanced dispatch app
05 June 2012 | Last updated at 02:04PM
http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/mytek...=false/Article



Pix by Aizuddin Saad

KUALA LUMPUR: MyTeksi Sdn Bhd today launched a taxi dispatch service with GPS enhancements that allows passengers to hail the nearest taxi with extreme ease.

General Manager Chew Wei Chuan said the company would first focus on creating the perfect solution to match passengers with drivers in the Klang Valley.

Next year, it planned to penetrate the Southeast Asian market, he told reporters after the launch of MyTeksi app here.

"The MyTeksi app, developed and tested since September last year, has been receiving over 500 bookings per day currently," he said.

Some RM500,000 was invested to develop the technology, and the app is the first in the country to use smartphone-based technologies for taxi booking and dispatch.

The service is powered by Maxis' Machine-to-Machine technology, as well as leveraging on its wide 3G and 2G network service provider in Malaysia.

MyTeksi is currently in talks with major taxi service providers after gaining the support of Comfort Communication Sdn Bhd (Comfort Taxi).

Comfort Taxi Chairman Datuk Aslah Abdullah said over 120 of the company's taxis currently used the service, and the plan was to increase it to another 500 within the next three months.

The app for iOS and Android can be downloaded for free, and passengers will enjoy a RM2 waiver on their standard taxi booking fee until June 30. -- BERNAMA

http://myteksi.com/

[dengilo]

Its a good start!Its a proven success story down south!

[nazrey]

Cabbies seek aid, subsidies
UPGRADE NEEDED: Taxi drivers say they need help from the government
By S.K. THANUSHA DEVI AND RACHEL RIGI 09 June 2012 | Last updated at 08:32AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general...sidies-1.92647



Taxi drivers hope that the government would come out with
special programmes to help uplift their living condition.

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIAN Taxi Owners and Drivers Association is hoping for the government's support and assistance to improve their condition.

Its secretary, Hiew Pow Man, said this was necessary so that the taxi drivers could provide better service to their customers.

He said the association currently has more than 200 registered members throughout the country.

"We are thankful to the Barisan Nasional government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the various programmes they have implemented to benefit the people."

Hiew said the taxi drivers were also very happy with the government for the RM500 Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) assistance given to those earning below RM3,000 including the taxi drivers.

"The money had come in very handy. We appreciate the assistance very much."

He hoped that the government would come out with special programmes to help improve taxi drivers' living condition.

"Sometimes, the money we earn daily is only enough to pay for the daily rental and petrol.

"We hope that the government can give us special financial assistance or subsidy."

Hiew said the financial assistance would help drivers to ensure that their vehicles would be in good condition for the safety and convenience of passengers.

"We can't fork out enough money all the time to have our taxis in tip top condition. We need help so that all the taxi drivers can keep their vehicles in proper condition and get more passengers."

Meanwhile, taxi driver Arokian Ramasamy, 55, complained that the taxi he drives was always plagued with problems due to high usage.

"The engine and air conditioning always break down, frequently leading to oil and water leaks. That is why I work extra every time to make sure I can earn enough to cover the maintenance cost. We really need financial assistance."

Ayub Jaafar said that his old vehicle also had the same problem and much worse.

"Normally, my passengers would complain about the stuffiness. My car is an old one, even when the air-conditioning is turned on, it won't be as strong as it used to be.

"I need to upgrade or change my car soon. I hope we will get subsidies to make it happen."

Haritharan Kandasamy, another local taxi driver vented his frustration over maintaining his tyres and having his taxi serviced twice a month, all at his own expense.

These costs leave a big hole in his pocket as he also has to pay the rent for his taxi to the company daily.

"We are not covered by Employees Provident Fund, Social Security contribution, employee insurance, and we have to use our own money to solve the fast deploring conditions of the taxi," said Haritharan.

Meanwhile, a passenger, Jagdip Singh, 20, said, that he mostly faced the problem of not having air-conditioning in taxis

"Nowadays the weather is really hot, and it would be worse if we happen to get into a taxi where its air-conditioning is not working properly.

"Sometimes they would have had the windows down so that we can get some air at least."

[nazrey]

image hosted on flickr

jmu_October 23, 2011_141.jpg by jeannot_muller, on Flickr

[nazrey]

image hosted on flickr

MY TAXI MPV KL by suasono_mycab, on Flickr

[nazrey]

image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/derek1688/7426172800/

[lerraf]

I think the proton Preve would be a good choice for standard taxis in malaysia

[dengilo]

image hosted on flickr

Thats what we see just before leaving the arrival hall and yet the "ULATs"can still cari makan!

[dengilo]

[IMG][/IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
I wonder if its really in service?

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

4,000 cabbies to be tourism’s driving force
Wednesday February 29, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...759&sec=nation



Bonjour: Dr Ng sharing a light moment with French tourist Vincent Pinatel, his
wife Anne and their children Margot (standing) and Romain during her visit to
the covered walkway from KLCC to Pavilion yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: About 4,000 taxi drivers in the Klang Valley will be appointed tourism taxi ambassadors in an effort to enhance the service industry and promote the country.

The move followed complaints from tourists about taxi drivers, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She added that the pilot project was to provide the drivers with “capacity building” to understand their roles better in nation-building.

“This is part of the Government’s initiative under the Malaysian Tourism Transformation Plan to achieve RM168bil in tourism revenue and 36 million tourists by 2020,” she said after visiting the covered walkway between the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Dr Ng said the ministry would collaborate with taxi associations and ask them to recommend drivers who could become tourism taxi ambassadors.

“The taxi must be clean, the driver must possess basic communication skills and not smoke while driving,” she added.

Dr Ng said the taxi drivers would be briefed on various new tourism products and government initiatives. They would also have to attend a one-day course.

“The training will be made for batches of 100 people each, which will begin in the middle of March,” she added.

The taxi drivers will be monitored for six months after the course and the selection will be done by a panel comprising taxi associations representatives, Land Public Transport Com*******mission (SPAD) and the ministry.

At a separate event, Dr Ng launched the 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale that will be held from March 10-April 15.

The events that will be held in conjunction with the GP Sale are the Malaysia International Shoe Festival (March 29-April 1), F1 Race Day (March 23-25) and the Fourth Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (March 15-18).

PM: Well-trained cabbies will improve tourists’ perception of Malaysia
By JOSEPH SIPALAN Thursday July 5, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202



VIP passenger: An elated Najib boarding a taxi for a tour around Putrajaya
during the launch of the Taxi Tourism Ambassadors programme at Dataran Putra.

PUTRAJAYA: A well-trained stable of taxi drivers will help shape and improve tourists' perception of the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said thousands of taxi drivers nationwide interacted with tourists every day, making them an important first point of contact with foreign visitors.

“If taxi drivers are polite, courteous and customer-friendly, speak good things about the country and show a positive attitude, tourists will feel welcomed.

“Tourists meet thousands of taxi drivers and through their interactions, tourists' perception of Malaysia is formed,” he said yesterday at the launch of the Taxi Tourism Ambassadors programme at Dataran Putra here.

Over 500 taxi drivers turned up for the launch, which was also attended by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

The Government aims to train some 4,000 taxi drivers, who will be selected to attend a one-day course at the Malaysian Tourism Centre to learn how to become effective tourism ambassadors.

Najib noted that the Government had also not forgotten about the welfare of taxi drivers, repeating his pledge to come up with a new model that would give taxi drivers better earnings and more independence in their work.

Syed Hamid, when met after the programme launch, said SPAD was finalising the new mechanism to allow taxi drivers to get individual permits and perks such as Socso protection.

Last week, Najib announced plans to implement a new model for the taxi industry within two years, that would allow them to get individual permits.

The Government will also dole out RM35mil in aid annually, which includes a two-year RM520 tyre subsidy for 67,000 budget, airport and executive taxis and hired cars under the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia programme.

Also included under the programme is a RM1mil fund for a personal accident insurance scheme to afford protection for over 100,000 taxi drivers nationwide.

[nazrey]

New app for virtual taxi call centre
By SERI NOR NADIAH KORIS|KUALA LUMPUR | 07 Julai 2012 | Last updated at 12:00AM
http://www.nst.com.my/streets/centra...entre-1.103893



Cabbie Azizi Mohd Tahir shows his smartphone with the TaxiMonger app
on the screen. Pic by Syarafiq Abd Samad

WIN-WIN: TaxiMonger’s aim is to help cabbies provide prompt service and increase their daily earnings

TAXIMONGER Sdn Bhd recently kicked off its commercialisation plan during its Open Day For Taxi Drivers of Klang Valley.

During the launch event, more than 500 taxi drivers were given the opportunity to check out value-for-money Android phones and special data plan packages involving TaxiMonger's app for a virtual call centre.

The event was officiated by Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, who supported TaxiMonger's efforts in improving the taxi industry for both taxi drivers as well as taxi-users.

TaxiMonger Sdn Bhd founder, Nirzan Noordin, said: "We want to help the taxi drivers increase their daily earning by taking advantage of this app."

In addition, TaxiMonger offered a three-month free subscription worth RM150 for the first 1,000 taxi drivers who registered that day.

There is no deposit or other costs involved for taxi drivers to join TaxiMonger's network.

During the open day, Syed Hamid also witnessed the launch of TaxiMonger's newly-integrated personal safety feature.

The virtual bodyguard incorporated from TaxiMonger's sister company, SecQ.me, is a personal safety mobile application feature that monitors a taxi-user on his or her taxi ride. The integration is called TaxiMonger Bodyguard.

TaxiMonger also initiated a referral programme called the Stick & Win RM100 contest which will run until June 30 next year. Taxi drivers stand a chance to win RM100 if they are spotted with TaxiMonger's car sticker on their side window.

The programme's aim is also to reward a taxi driver with RM150 in cash for every 10 new taxi drivers introduced who sign up with Taxi Monger's subscription plan.

TaxiMonger will hold a daily seminar for all taxi drivers everyday at 2pm at ICT Utopia, Plaza Low Yat.

All these initiatives are expected to help TaxiMonger sign up at least 5,000 taxi drivers by the year-end.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/TaxiMonger or http://taximonger.com, or call 03-2094 5898.

[nazrey]

Taxi permit restructure in the works
Posted on 11 July 2012 - 04:26pm Cindi Loo
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/432124

KUALA LUMPUR (July 11, 2012): The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is conducting a study to restructure the allocation of taxi permits given to taxi operators and individuals.

SPAD Chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said one of the considerations include retrieving inactive taxi permits from taxi operators and giving it to drivers who wish to set up a one man enterprise taxi business.

"We're considering this method following complaints from many taxi drivers that their operators are charging very high rental rates for taxi permits," he told a press conference after opening the inaugural Land Public Transport Forum at the Ritz-Carlton Convention Centre.

He added that some 7, 000 taxi permits were identified as inactive through a re-registration exercise conducted by SPAD, so these permits may be given to the taxi drivers who wish to continue operating their taxis as individuals.

"The taxi operators' business will not be affected. We're not adding more taxi permits, only recycling them to the drivers who feel frustrated with the high rental charges," he said.

The study is expected to be completed and submitted to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the near future.

Syed Hamid also said they have identified 13 corridors of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to be developed following the extension of the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT lines.

"We hope to expand these BRTs to the Federal Highway as well," he said.