PUTRAJAYA will not be cowed by taxi groups’ threat to vote against the ruling coalition in the 14th general election, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.

He said the government was making efforts to resolve issues faced by taxi drivers following the rise in popularity of e-hailing services, and that it was not siding with the latter.

“I will ask Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai to meet them (taxi drivers). (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) Nancy Shukri, who oversees the Land Public Transport Commission, will also meet them to resolve these issues.

“There is no need for threats, and we will not be threatened,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya.

Zahid, who is also home minister, was responding to a threat made by taxi groups, spearheaded by Big Blue Capital (M) Sdn Bhd adviser Shamsubahrin Ismail.

Shamsubahrin had said taxi drivers would vote for Pakatan Harapan instead of Barisan Nasional in GE14 if the government continued to support e-hailing services.

“We, the taxi industry, will give our full vote to PH in GE14 if the government is not sincere, honest and transparent in looking into the issues facing the industry. 

“Stop the drama because we know GE14 is around the corner, and prime minister, please be a man by keeping to your words. You promised in GE13 that you would not betray the taxi industry and affect taxi drivers’ rice bowl,” he had said in a statement.

Shamsubahrin’s remarks came after Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Jemut Masing said people were increasingly using e-hailing services to save money.

Taxi drivers in Sarawak earlier this week protested against such services, namely Uber and GrabCar, being available for passengers heading to and from Kuching International Airport. – January 11, 2018.