I am sure that many Malaysians were shaking their heads today when they read of a recent press conference held by the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board - in which they admitted their total failure to resolve issues with the existing taxi service.

Apparently it is not for lack of trying. The CVLB says that they have continuously tried to make a difference. Sadly, their efforts are wasted - probably because they keep using the same methods even if they are not working.

This is the basic problem with the CVLB - it issues too many permits and its enforcement is powerless - as witnessed by the taxi driver who deliberately overcharged a CVLB officer, or the taxis being driven by foreigners while the permit owners sit back and let the money roll in.

Consider that it was in the middle of last year that CVLB was trying to get more permits issued - this time to individual owner operators - as if having more taxi cabs on the road would improve the current situation.

Now the CVLB publicly admits that it cannot handle the taxi situation. Perhaps they are hoping for the sympathy of the public?

The public can only hope that the new prime minister will accept that this experiment in “entrepreneurial” public transport is a colossal failure Public transport is a public service with great economic benefits, not an opportunity to subsidize “entrepreneurs” who are not providing the services they are supposed to.

Despite the CVLB claim to failure, there are actually many solutions. Regular and real enforcement would be a great start.

Also, the CVLB should give up budget taxi service and just keep the Premier (Yellow) and Executive (Blue) taxis - the newer and better looking ones - and merge them into one type of service - Teksi Bermeter. These taxis would provide meter taxi service along the medium distance routes, make pickups along the main roads, at houses, malls, etc.

The budget taxis would be combined with the Kereta Sewa (Hired Car) to create another type of Taxi, Teksi Berkupon. These taxis would be regulated by the Local Council or Local Public Transport Authorities and would have to operate from designated taxi stands operated by enforcement officers. Inspection of Teksi Berkupon would be by the enforcement officers of the Local Authority.

Passengers would purchase their coupons from the taxi stand, which would be equipped with cash registers and Touch N Go readers. Fares would be decided by the Local Authority or Local Council (at Council Meetings and subject to review). Fares would be clearly posted at the taxi stand so there would be no dispute. Revenue would go directly to the Local Authority or Local Council instead of a middleman which would keep costs low.

The fares would be based on a stage-based or zone-based system and passengers would be offered discounts if they are willing to share a taxi with others.

This system would create a huge improvement to the existing system because it would offer passengers more choice and better safety and get the local councils involved in improving the taxi services.

As for the CVLB - The Director has admitted that it has failed. Hence, CVLB should be shut down or moved back to the Ministry of Transport. In the future, all public transport planning and regulations must be handled by a new, independent Public Transport Commission.

Sincerely

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
Subang Jaya, Selangor