Plight of a Penang taxi driver

Selayah, 61, a taxi drivers who does not have a private permit and needs to be attached to a company ,has been affected by the various challenges of making a living in Penang.

As the number of illegal taxi drivers operating at different rates increases, sustainability for taxi drivers a jeopardised.

According to Selayah, being in competition with companies which monopolise the tourism industries leave private taxi owners in the lurch as they are unable to park their vehicles in tourist hot-spots.

Selayah is also not satisfied with the attitude by the authorities like  Jabatan Pengakutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ), Majis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP), Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) and the police in tackling the problem of illegal taxis.

“Our taxis are not allowed by them to pick up passengers at some popular tourist spots, but illegal taxis are waiting there and no action was taken against them.” lamented Selayah.

According to Selayah, tyre subsidies by the government for local cabbies are not enough and he request that the government should provide fuel subsidies on petrol or gas to taxi drivers in Penang.

“Why isn’t the government taking any action when there are so many problems affecting us?” he asked.