We apologise to Dr Mahathir, says taxi drivers' group

Christopher Rabin Christopher Rabin Updated 7 years ago · Published on 24 Oct 2018 2:27PM · 6 Comments

The Malaysian Taxi Union president Kamarudin Hussain says its members are not acting for any political party. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, October 24, 2018.

THE Malaysian Taxi Union (GTSM) has apologised to Dr Mahathir Mohammad after some of its members insulted him and walked out on a dialogue with the prime minister in Langkawi last Sunday.

“We would like to say we are sorry to Dr Mahathir,” said GTSM president Kamarudin Hussain.

“We believe the taxi drivers who left the dialogue did not have the intention to hurt Dr Mahathir” he said.

He said the drivers who left the dialogue were acting out of emotion as the issue affecting their bread and butter had not been clarified by the Transport Ministry (MOT).

“They were acting emotionally as they were disappointed with Dr Mahathir’s answer of the ministry not acting (on behalf of taxis to level the competition with Grab),” he said.

Kamarudin said the drivers who left the dialogue were not pawns acting for any political parties.

“Also, to clarify, these drivers were not paid by any party to sabotage the dialogue,” he said.

On Sunday, Dr Mahathir offered to resign as prime minister after a group of 10 taxi drivers shouted at him before walking out of the event hall.

The 93-year-old leader was in Langkawi to hold a dialogue with taxi drivers to inform them on the measures being put in place by Putrajaya to level the playing field for them with their e-hailing competitors.

Dr Mahathir had said ride hailing service GRAB will be asked to use vehicles approved by the government, pay insurance and taxes, just like taxis. – October 24, 2018.

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Comments

  • Taxi drivers are a bunch of spoilt brats. Nobody owes them a living.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tan Kenny · Reply

  • The problem is not with MOT, nor Grab. The problem is the customers. The customers choose not to take taxis. They rather take Grab. If you drivers want to blame somebodies, blame the customers.

    Posted 7 years ago by Awang Bilis · Reply

  • Just move towards win win....taxi convert to ehailing...no more nonsense

    Posted 7 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • CUSTOMERS CHOICE.

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • Ulat dalam batu pun boleh hidup, ni kan pula manusia yang mana makhluk yang dicipta ALLAH sebaik baik makhluk

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • To be fair, let the press outline what licensed taxis have to bear in connection with their operation. It isn't easy for such taxi drivers. Costs are high. It is all very well for many comments to discredit these taxi operators but e-hailing services cannot fully replace these licensed taxis in many places and situations. Also not all passengers can switch to e-haling as there are other cost like having and operating hand-phones, etc. Those whop e

    Posted 7 years ago by KP Goh · Reply