‘Boycott taxis that don’t use meters’

Passengers lining up at the Jalan Jim Quee taxi stand that is managed by the association.

PASSENGERS are urged to hail taxis from the Jalan Jim Quee stand in Johor Baru to avoid being ripped off by errant cabbies.

United Taxi Association of Johor Baru (Gapet) secretary Wahid Mohd Yasin said there had been cases where passengers were overcharged by taxi drivers who refused to use their meters.

“This results in all taxi drivers being tarred with the same brush regardless of whether they are driving legally or illegally.

“This also causes passengers to choose e-hailing vehicles.

“There are two taxi stands at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) here; one is in Jalan Jim Quee and another at JB Sentral.

“The one in Jalan Jim Quee is managed by Gapet, so the prices are fixed, while the one in JB Sentral is not under any management,” said Wahid.

He said this when commenting on a viral Facebook post that claimed all taxi drivers at the CIQ were refusing to use their meters and were overcharging customers.

“We are well aware of the cases.

“For example, the fixed rate from Jalan Jim Quee to Senai International Airport is about RM60 (including the RM12 airport charge), while the price could be double if passengers board at JB Sentral,” he explained.

Wahid added that each Gapet passenger would be given a receipt containing the details of their driver and a number to call if they were dissatisfied with the service.

Store assistant Loh Jun Yu, 23, said he once fell prey to overcharging after hailing a taxi from JB Sentral to Permas Jaya.

“I was charged RM80 by the driver and was only told the fare after reaching my destination.

“He did not even tell me the meter was not running,” said Loh, adding that the price offered by Gapet was about RM25 for the same distance.

Loh began using an e-hailing service after that incident, before he discovered the Gapet service.

Taxi driver Mohd Yassin Mohd Salleh, 56, said he wasn’t surprised about the viral post as the situation had been ongoing for some time.

“Personally, I am offended by the post because it implies that all taxi drivers in the area are the same.

He said the irresponsible taxi drivers were making the situation bad for everyone, especially now that the border with Singapore had reopened.

He advised passengers to insist on meter usage and request for receipts.

Meanwhile, Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the case was currently under investigation by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).

“The incident at Jalan Tun Razak involves a taxi driver who isn’t with any association.

“We are preparing a report on the case before we take action,” he said.