‘Taxi drivers mustn’t take law into own hands’

KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers cannot take the law into their own hands.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) Chairman Syed Hamid Albar said this when responding to the incident where a Uber driver, carrying an Iranian passenger, was ambushed by taxi drivers on Monday at KL Sentral.

Speaking to reporters at a buka puasa event organised by SPAD today, Syed Hamid stressed that SPAD was in the midst of resolving the problems between private chauffeur services and taxi drivers.

He said taxi drivers cannot “act emotionally”.

“We are already in the midst of submitting proposals for Uber, GrabCar and taxi services to have a level playing field.

“They shouldn’t have done that (attack), especially when it involves a tourist.

“Malaysia is a very popular tourist destination. We are known as a harmonious and united country. These actions make us look bad,” he told reporters.

When asked if SPAD would take action against the said taxi drivers, Syed Hamid said that SPAD did not want to make presumptions.

“We will wait and see. We will hear from the police before we take any action.

“Whether it’s suspending the drivers, revoking their licences and what not, we will first wait for the police.”

Syed Hamid also advised Uber not to advertise their services on such a large scale in order to avoid any more tension before the new rules are set.

“Whether it’s political or non-political, don’t go ‘Oh, I was a Uber driver today’ and boast about your services.

“Before the proposals are approved and the new rules set, Uber and GrabCar should keep a low profile.

“They can use the services all they want. We cannot stop them; but don’t-lah go boasting about it everywhere.”

Last week, former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wahid Omar was a Uber driver for a day.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh today brushed off reports circulating on social media that a group of 50 taxi drivers attacked an Uber car driver on Monday.

Instead, the commotion only occurred between a taxi driver and an Uber car driver in which a 44-year-old suspect had been detained in Taman Selayang Utama, Batu Caves, at 11.15pm last night, he said.

“The suspect was alleged to have kicked the Uber car before dragging out a tourist and had a quarrel with the Uber driver,” he told Bernama.

Police have asked the Uber driver to lodge a report.

Amar Singh also denied allegations that the Uber car window was smashed and said the 43-year-old Iranian woman was actually a student at a local university in Skudai, Johor, and not a tourist.

“She arrived at KL Sentral with her son. The injury on her thumb occurred when the suspect was taking out her luggage,” he said.

Police advised the parties involved not to take the law into their own hands and instead lodge their complaints to SPAD.