KUALA LUMPUR: Commuters can look forward to better taxi services with online system Oride.taxi or Oride which also offers training and incentives programmes for drivers.
To be launched in May, the privately-run initiative by the Federation of Taxi Drivers Associations and Companies for Peninsula (Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat-Syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia or Gabungan) and Official Ride Services Sdn Bhd offers convenient online booking and incentives to both drivers and commuters through rating system.
Land Public Transport Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said it was high time that the taxi industry start on a level playing field given the booming of booking app services.
“Taxi drivers should make use of such system to keep abreast with times and compete with others who had started using such technology to earn extra income.
Some of them are getting between RM5,000 and RM10,000 a month, which is a lot more than what taxi drivers are earning.
“We want to see the industry (taxi) to self-regulate and improve its services.
The industry was too slow and didn’t look into demands of the public who now want taxi to be available immediately,” he said in reference to the ride-sharing services.
He said the welfare of taxi drivers is equally important and should be given opportunity to earn higher income and benefits.
Official Ride said for a start, about 20,000 taxis in the Greater Kuala Lumpur would be equipped with the system this year.
“By next year, we aim to have 40,000 taxi drivers on board before expanding to Johor, Malacca and Penang. Hopefully, taxi drivers nationwide will use the system by 2019.
The system, which offers booking through its website, app and phone calls, would also soon allow for e-payment through credit or debit and Touch ‘N Go cards.
“We also offers training for the drivers to allow them improve their services to the passengers.
Both drivers and passengers will receive incentives through the reward system where both are able to rate the other.
Passengers will be able to get rebates, for instance, based on the rating given by the drivers,” he said.
He said taxi drivers would also be rewarded for their efficiency in providing services to commuters in congested area during peak hours, which was an issue raised by members of the public.
He said a survey among taxi drivers showed that the use of apps had helped them to boost their income and number of trips improved.
He said the information gathered by the database could also be used by the authorities.
Ride-sharing services had been the bane of taxi drivers who complained that their income was badly affected since it was introduced in Malaysia a few years ago.
Also present were Gabungan’s president Datuk S.M. Salahuddin Ayubi Kamal Aazad (correct) and treasurer Abd Razak Abd Aziz, and Oride managing director Kevin Dielenberg.-nst
