Taxi drivers are still overcharging

[admin]

KUALA LUMPUR: Days after the launch of a three-month awareness campaign on the rights of public transport users, not much has changed in the attitudes of taxi drivers.

Checks at Central Market revealed that taxi drivers were still overcharging passengers and refusing to use meters.

Some drivers were willing to reduce the fare slightly after much haggling but most had a "take it or leave it" attitude.

Our reporter took a ride in a taxi from Central Market to KLCC and was charged a flat rate of RM15. There was no congestion. If the meter was used, the fare would have been less than RM10.

Our reporter was given a blank receipt instead of a printed one.

Next, our reporter approached a taxi driver outside Suria KLCC at the Jalan Ampang taxi stand. A signboard at the shopping mall's entrance advises passengers to use the taxi stand in Jalan Ampang and use only metered taxis.

Our reporter was told that the taxi fare from Suria KLCC to Mid Valley Megamall was RM20 and it was non-negotiable.

Our reporter insisted that the driver use the meter or at least reduce the price. But the driver claimed that taxi drivers in the area did not use the meter because traffic was slow-moving. He added that some charged as much as RM30.

Upon arrival, our reporter asked for a receipt after paying the fare but the driver claimed that he did not have a receipt book.

Mahzab Ghanbarzade, an Iranian tourist, said she was charged RM15 for her taxi ride from Grand Seasons Hotel to Suria KLCC.

"None of the taxis I took used the meter and we didn't know who to report this to. But the drivers were not rude so it wasn't an awful experience."

Mahzab said the awareness campaign was a good idea.

The campaign is part of the transport sector's National Key Result Areas to increase the percentage of public transport users from 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2012.

To empower the public and improve the taxi service, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) is distributing pamphlets in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

Stickers with the message, "This is a metered taxi. Haggling is prohibited. Request for your receipt", were also distributed.

Checks at the South Court driveway of Mid Valley Megamall found the taxi drivers there to be more professional. They used meters and also did not refuse to take passengers.

A ride from Mid Valley Megamall to KL Sentral along Jalan Tun Sambanthan at 1pm came up to RM6.40 on the meter. The driver also produced a printed ticket indicating the distance, price and vehicle number.

The driver, who was in his 60s, said he had been driving a taxi for over 30 years and had always followed the rules.

"Not all taxi drivers are bad. There are still some honest ones. We welcome the increase in the taxi fare but it has resulted in fewer passengers as many claim that it is too expensive."

Our delight over the professionalism of the taxi drivers at the Mid Valley taxi stand was short-lived.

Many taxi drivers in Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, were also refusing to use meters.

A taxi driver said it wasn't as bad in the day as it was at night.

"Passengers should report errant drivers to the CVLB as these drivers cheat them.

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