Singaporean Taxi
Disgusting Malaysian Taxi
I came across this article in a Singaporean newspaper, where I would have imagined the malaysian press to be too afraid of publishing due to its sensitive issues regarding another of the country's achilles heel. It reads.
M'sian Taxis among worst in the world
The service offered by Malaysian taxis is among the worst in the world, according to a survey by a singaporean magazine. Readers of The Expat, which has a monthly circulation of 6000, gave the Malaysian taxi service a big thumbs down compared to those in 22 countries. More than 200 expatriates from 30 countries took part in the survey, News Straits Times reported. Their comments on malaysian cabbies range from "a national disgrace","a source of national shame","a serious threat to tourist","rude bullies" to "extortionist".
Respondants complained the most about overcharging and taxi drivers who would not take passengers who refused to pay a flat rate much higher than the regular fare. The survey covered five main aspects, namely quality of taxi drivers' manners, taxis' availability on the street, theri availability by the phone and drivers' knowledge of the job. Malaysian taxis scored the lowest in ALL categories polled. On a 10 point scale, malaysian taxis got scores of 3.8,4.4,4.4,5.5 for each of the 5 aspects listed. This was in contrast to the scores earned by taxis in Singapore 8.6,8.0,8.1,8.8 and 8.7.
Malaysia's Taxi Operators Association chairman Aslah Abdullah said he could not deny the findings. "Still, you also need to check what the fares are in the other countries being compared, because that's where the problem lies."
Well well, another reality check. If Malaysia was trying to achieve first world country status via this segment it can forget it for the next century.
First and foremost, no one does the taxi business like what Malaysia does, offer contracts to small operators and allow them to run it however they like. There we can observe that QC will get out of hand because there are just too many operators. This should be a government thing, or at least at semi-government stage, where only one major privatised company is allowed to run taxis and all operations monitored by the government.
Secondly is the stupendous attitude of many taxi drivers who trully tarnish the image of a nation. Demading fixed fares, negotiating, refusing to take passengers to certain locations and so on. HEY taxi drivers out there, cut the CRAP, your duty as a taxi driver is to shut up, let the passenger in, start the fare meter and drive them to where ever they want to go. Take a good look at how the Singaporeans are getting it done, the you will know what it is like to be a true WORLD CLASS taxi driver. Oh, just to add salt to the wound, the survey above also includes other Asean countries like Thailand and Indonesia and yet Malaysia somehow managed to finish behind them.
Finally, there is the vehicle. How can an old junk Proton Iswara of the early 90s be given the duty to protray the country's image. Its dead cramp at the rear with air-conditioners no stronger than a ceiling fan. Its time to change. A Toyota Crown used by Singapore is big enough to swallow TWO of our such protons and still manage to carry a passenger while Thailand uses brand new Toyota Vios. I bet a Perodua Myvi can do better than a Proton Iswara. Oh last but not least, to Mr Aslah Abdullah, stop giving excuses and start using your brain to help paint a better image of our wonderful country to the outside world. I am sure people wouldn't mind paying more if all this nonsense about Malaysian taxis' were reversed.
M'sian Taxis among worst in the world
The service offered by Malaysian taxis is among the worst in the world, according to a survey by a singaporean magazine. Readers of The Expat, which has a monthly circulation of 6000, gave the Malaysian taxi service a big thumbs down compared to those in 22 countries. More than 200 expatriates from 30 countries took part in the survey, News Straits Times reported. Their comments on malaysian cabbies range from "a national disgrace","a source of national shame","a serious threat to tourist","rude bullies" to "extortionist".
Respondants complained the most about overcharging and taxi drivers who would not take passengers who refused to pay a flat rate much higher than the regular fare. The survey covered five main aspects, namely quality of taxi drivers' manners, taxis' availability on the street, theri availability by the phone and drivers' knowledge of the job. Malaysian taxis scored the lowest in ALL categories polled. On a 10 point scale, malaysian taxis got scores of 3.8,4.4,4.4,5.5 for each of the 5 aspects listed. This was in contrast to the scores earned by taxis in Singapore 8.6,8.0,8.1,8.8 and 8.7.
Malaysia's Taxi Operators Association chairman Aslah Abdullah said he could not deny the findings. "Still, you also need to check what the fares are in the other countries being compared, because that's where the problem lies."
Well well, another reality check. If Malaysia was trying to achieve first world country status via this segment it can forget it for the next century.
First and foremost, no one does the taxi business like what Malaysia does, offer contracts to small operators and allow them to run it however they like. There we can observe that QC will get out of hand because there are just too many operators. This should be a government thing, or at least at semi-government stage, where only one major privatised company is allowed to run taxis and all operations monitored by the government.
Secondly is the stupendous attitude of many taxi drivers who trully tarnish the image of a nation. Demading fixed fares, negotiating, refusing to take passengers to certain locations and so on. HEY taxi drivers out there, cut the CRAP, your duty as a taxi driver is to shut up, let the passenger in, start the fare meter and drive them to where ever they want to go. Take a good look at how the Singaporeans are getting it done, the you will know what it is like to be a true WORLD CLASS taxi driver. Oh, just to add salt to the wound, the survey above also includes other Asean countries like Thailand and Indonesia and yet Malaysia somehow managed to finish behind them.
Finally, there is the vehicle. How can an old junk Proton Iswara of the early 90s be given the duty to protray the country's image. Its dead cramp at the rear with air-conditioners no stronger than a ceiling fan. Its time to change. A Toyota Crown used by Singapore is big enough to swallow TWO of our such protons and still manage to carry a passenger while Thailand uses brand new Toyota Vios. I bet a Perodua Myvi can do better than a Proton Iswara. Oh last but not least, to Mr Aslah Abdullah, stop giving excuses and start using your brain to help paint a better image of our wonderful country to the outside world. I am sure people wouldn't mind paying more if all this nonsense about Malaysian taxis' were reversed.
