BALIK PULAU: The Federal Government has proposed a fare hike for Penang taxi drivers, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
At a dialogue session with taxi and rented car drivers at the market complex here, Nazri said the proposal was subject to the cabinet's approval. The breakdown:
- RM3 to RM4 as the base fare plus 13 sen for every 150 metres after that (up from 10 sen); and
- in traffic jams, from RM3 to RM4 in the first two minutes plus 13 sen for the next 27 seconds (up from 10 sen for the next 45 seconds).
"The calculation was done by a consultant," Nazri said.
He also called on taxi operators who had set up "illegal bases"to dismantle them as they did not have the permission of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board.
He said taxi drivers should be cruising and not staying put at one spot.
During the dialogue, Nazri proposed that the whole state be declared a taxi area, which would then require taxi drivers to use meters.
He noted that major cities all around the world used metered taxis.
He said that converting rented cars in the state to taxis would mean that there was no difference between Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
He noted that Hong Kong used only taxis.
"If the whole of Penang becomes a taxi area, then all these illegal bases or stands must be dismantled," he said, adding that he was merely floating a proposal and the drivers should tell him if it could not be implemented.
On the high inspection charges imposed by Puspakom, Nazri said he would discuss the possibility of a reduction in charges with the Transport Ministry.
He noted that if the charges were too high, it would raise operational costs for taxis and rented cars.
-NST Online, 24hb Mei 2009
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