The one with individual taxi permit

Reading this piece in The Star today, I loud the Entrepreneurial and Cooperatives Ministry for this proposal to allow individual licenses for taxi drivers in our country especially in the KL area. The consortium mechanism that has been a practice all this while doesn’t really work in addressing the needs of taxi drivers. My agreement on this is purely on the earnings that will be generated by the taxi drivers, just that. You know, taken into consideration all the issues behind the increase of food prices, petrol and high cost of living. All the mechanism behind awarding the individual permit, I believe the ministry in their wisdom can really thrash it out and come out with a full-proof system.

During my occasional rides in the taxi, I met with a lot of taxi drivers with 1001 grouses. The one that always strike me was on the income that they gain everyday. I found out that they are really struggling on everyday basis. They work long hours but earn very little and they also need to pay the consortium owning their taxis ranging between RM30-RM50 per day which is about half or three quarter of their earning everyday. Sometimes, after talking to them, I made a simple calculation, say they earn around RM100 per day, minus taxi rental RM50 and minus NGV RM10 thus they have around RM40 a day to bring back home. So RM40 x 30 days = RM1,200. Plus sometimes no EPF, Socso and stuffs like that. That is such a small amount and please bear in mind that the amount I calculated was on the basis that if they work rain or shine, very long hours and for one solid month! No wonder they broke the law in order for them to gain extra money.

So, purely on this, I think this measure is quite right. Hopefully, if this proposal passes through, we have a better taxi service in the near future.