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SPAD meets JB-S'pore cabbies
Report from The New Straits Times (Malaysia) dated 7 March 2014 :-
SPAD meets JB-S'pore cabbies
MOVING FORWARD: Commission hopes to adopt a new mechanism for permit renewals
JOHOR BARU: THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) recently met cabbies plying the Johor Baru-Singapore route in an effort to improve their service.
The meeting was held at Johor Baru Umno building between commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and taxi drivers.
Syed Hamid said SPAD wanted to gather information on any internal or external issue faced by the drivers so that it could find the best solution for them.
"Most of the taxi permits for the Johor Baru-Singapore route end in May this year.
"SPAD hopes to adopt a new mechanism for permit renewals which involves interviewing companies, taxi owners and drivers," he said during a press conference held after a closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
He said there are at present 200 taxis in the city which have been granted permits to ferry passengers to Singapore.
"We receive many positive responses during the discussion between the commission and taxi drivers.
"Besides the permit issue, SPAD also listened to livelihood-related issues of cabbies such as their rental and purchase of taxis," he said.
Syed Hamid said SPAD would look into the question of executive taxis picking up and dropping off passengers at the Senai International Airport.
He said to prevent monopoly, SPAD was looking into the possibility of allowing all types of taxis to operate at the terminal. The open policy is currently being implemented at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Also present at the closed-door meeting was Johor Baru member of parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork
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