Looks like an era of peace is upon us, everyone!
It has been reported that a group of taxi companies and associations known as Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat-syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia (GPST) have finally worked out an agreement with the highly popular ride-sharing app, Uber.
The taxi driver associations and Uber will be signing a memorandum of understanding today, allowing around 500 taxi drivers to use the app.
Big Blue Taxi Services founder, Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, stated that this agreement will ultimately benefit taxi drivers by helping them gain more customers and subsequently, earn more in the process.
“This will allow the taxi industry and Uber to coexist, especially since SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) has given Uber the green light to operate.”
This comes as an interesting development, since Datuk Shamsubahrin was one of the most active protesters against Uber and Grab when the apps were planned to be legalised by the government last year, threatening to support Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad’s then newly formed political party instead of the Barisan Nasional if these plans were to be confirmed.
In efforts to increase taxi customers last year, he also released an app that would have supposedly made it easier for people to hail cabs, which reportedly cost RM 700,000 to develop. Unfortunately, this effort proved unsuccessful in drawing customers.
“Some applications were developed especially for local taxis, but they did not function well and the people were not even aware of the applications.”
Well, we’re glad all this drama has finally been settled!
Also read: Singaporean Uber Driver Picks Up Air Stewardess That Later Becomes His Girlfriend
