Abdul Karim speaks to reporters after officiating at the VSC Car Sticker Launch. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Taxi associations in Kuching have been advised to merge and come under one roof so as to ensure a stronger and unified voice for the taxi drivers.
This was suggested by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is of the opinion that the capital of Sarawak currently has too many taxi associations.
“Kuching is a small city and there are five taxi associations regulating the taxi drivers.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea (to have so many associations) but it is up to them whether they want to stay split or they want to come together and to have one strong voice,” he told reporters after officiating the VSC Car Sticker Launch at Plaza Merdeka’s taxi stand here yesterday.
In Kuching, the five taxi associations are Gabungan Pemilik Teksi Kuching Berhad, Persatuan Teksi Bumi Kenyalang Kuching, Persatuan Teksi Bumiputra Kuching, Taxi Owners Association and Kuching Division Taxi Association.
Earlier, Abdul Karim attended a dialogue with members of the taxi associations to obtain feedback from taxi drivers as well as discuss on how to increase efforts to promote Sarawak to tourists and visitors to the state.
“One of the issues highlighted was concerning e-hailing services like Grab. These are things which we cannot avoid and it is happening all over the world.
“That is why, it is my hope for taxi associations in Sarawak to be more united. If you are alone, it is better for you to register yourself as a Grab driver as well as a taxi driver,” he remarked.
He acknowledged that taxi drivers currently have to pay for insurance coverage while it is not compulsory for Grab drivers to do so.
“But I believe that the time will come when the federal government will have to implement a regulating programme where all those who are registered as Grab drivers are required to have a special insurance scheme to insure themselves as well as their passengers, for instance.”
Asked to comment if taxi associations in Kuching were willing to adopt an e-hailing service system like Grab, Abdul Karim said it was up to the members to discuss among themselves.