Land Transport Commission (Spad) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar has advised taxi drivers unhappy with the existence of ride-sharing applications Uber and Grabcar to do "self-reflection".

He said these taxi drivers should ask themselves why the public prefer to hire private cars for their commutes instead of taxis.

"Rather than blame everyone else, taxi drivers should ask why people choose these private cars," he said.

He added there have been copious customer complaints on taxi drivers’ attitudes, including how they are "rude" to passengers.

"I don't think these are the majority (of taxi drivers) […] there may only be a handful of them who are like this, but this needs to be addressed.

"I feel they need to change their attitude," he told Malaysiakini .

His remarks come after taxi drivers attacked cars driven by Uber and Grabcar drivers in Kuala Lumpur recently.

‘Don't politicise issue’

Syed Hamid said Spad cannot take action against Uber and Grabcar because the matter is outside its jurisdiction.

He said only the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) can take action and bar the mobile applications.

But even then, he pointed out, Uber for example hosts its application overseas.

Another agency that can take action is the Road Transport Department (RTD).

"So why only focus on us? Don't politicise this issue," he warned.

He said Spad can only act against the individual ride-sharing drivers for providing a car for hire service without following the regulations laid down for taxis.

"They are like 'taxi sapu' . They have no signage. But we have arrested and impounded more than 100 of these 'private taxis'.

"So we are not taking action on Uber but on the cars driven without a taxi license; and it is difficult," he said.

He added it is impossible for Spad to licence these 'private taxis" without killing the taxi industry.

"They'll all be dead," he said.

‘Most cabbies good’

Persatuan Transformasi Pemandu Teksi Malaysia (PERS1M) recently held a demonstration against Spad urging that Syed Hamid be replaced for allegedly failing to do his job.

However, Syed Hamid believes PERS1M represents a minority of taxi drivers.

"If they want to take my place, go ahead. They can do so. Try managing all these taxies.

"They're just a small group. I don't even know if they are registered.

He estimated that dissatisfied taxi drivers only make up about six percent of the over 100,000 taxi drivers in Malaysia.

"Most taxi drivers are good […]. They work; they don't make noise," he said.