SIBU: Taxi fare from Sibu Airport to town may be reduced if the fuel price drops further.
Jimmy Henry
Sibu Taxi Owners’ Association chairman Robert Angkah said they were waiting for green light from the authority to lower the fare that is currently fixed at RM45.
He said they had never increased the fare from airport to Sibu town since 2007 despite fuel prices having gone up several times.
“Rain water has damaged the road somewhat and has also made many potholes appear, and this hastens the wear and tear of our vehicles.
“As a result we need to maintain and service our vehicles more frequently,” Angkah told The Borneo Post in an indirect reply when asked if taxi fare would be adjusted following the latest reduction in fuel price.
He added that cabs were sent to Puspakom for checking on a half-yearly basis, and safety of their passengers was their top priority.
His association has about 160 members, the largest among the four taxi associations here.
He bemoaned the long waiting time his members had to bear at the airport, saying at times they had to wait late into the evening when there were flight delays due to bad weather.
Angkah said, in town areas, the fare was based on meter-reading at RM10 for the first 3km, and RM0.12 for the subsequent 100m.
He reminded members to give quality service to their customers, saying,”In town areas, where traffic is getting heavier due to the coming Chinese New Year and coupled by congestion in certain areas caused by flood and rush hours, taxi drivers may be compromising when regular passengers negotiate fare with them.”
Meanwhile, Sibu Division Taxi Association vice chairman Jimmy Henry said he would like to see all the 60 members of his association provide their best service to customers.
Both he and Angkah expected taxi business to pick up in a few days’ time.
They called on the authority to clamp down on pirated taxis.
There are four taxi associations in Sibu, namely Sibu Taxi Owners’ Association, Sibu Division Taxi Association, ‘Persatuan Teksi Bumiputra Bersatu Sibu’ and ‘Persatuan Taxi Sibu’.