The recent announcement by Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz in the Prime Minister's Department that taxi and bus fare increases can be expected as early as next month sent shivers down my spine. Not that they do not need an increase but the manner in which it is being done needs careful examination.

Whatever the reasons for the increase in bus and taxi fares, the authorities must first look at the quality of service being offered to the public by both taxi and bus operators. It is simply deplorable to say the least. Firstly, the condition of most of the taxis are unsatisfactory. That's why they cannot find insurance companies to sell them policies. Merely limiting their liability to between RM5,000 to RM10,000 is not going to solve the problem.

These Proton-manufactured cars that run as taxis are most uncomfortable especially if the journey takes a little more than half-an-hour. To seat four passengers or more in these cars is asking a little too much for comfort. If anything, it is a squeeze and a danger to the stability of the vehicle.

Furthermore, they are so low that getting in and out for elderly people is something to worry about. So what is the rationale for the taxi fare increase?

Taxi-drivers all over the country are defying the authority by not using their meters but demanding excessive fares for even short distances. The JPJ seems to be helpless or simply not capable of controlling these errant taxi drivers who are holding the public to ransom. Here in Johor Baru, try taking a taxi at Johore Central after alighting at the CIQ and walking a good kilometre to find transport home. You will have to cough out a minimum of RM15.

It's the same at the Johore/Singapore taxi stand and at the Larkin Bus-stand. Wherever taxi stands are provided in the city, the drivers will not want to take you anywhere using their meters. Increasing their fares is not going to help in any way unless the service they provide improves. The taxi drivers are very used to bullying the traveling public and no amount of any increase in fares will satisfy them. Old habits die hard.

As a frequent traveler to Singapore using taxis from the taxi stand in Johor Baru, I cannot understand how the RM60 fare came about. The return journey is S$40; that is RM96 when converted. Together the driver makes RM156. Is it any wonder then that one sees numerous Malaysian taxis idling away at the Singapore end of the taxi point? Most of these drivers usually make one trip into Singapore and their day's work is done!

How come the fares got increased from RM40 to RM60 and now we are told that there's going to be further increases pretty soon. Just imagine running into Singapore for a whopping RM156. Add to this the RM15 the local taxis ask to send you anywhere within the city of Johor Baru even within a kilometer. You are poorer by RM171 - minimum! Don't forget that getting to the taxi stand from your home in Johor Baru is another RM7 minimum.

JPJ, please wake up and tell your minister the plight of the poor people who cannot afford this kind of swindle perpetrated on the old, the feeble and the poor. By increasing fares, the government is ‘robbing' the poor to help other poor people. The rich and powerful are not bothered in any way as taxi and bus fare increases are not of their concern. Increasing their fares only will make taxi drivers work even less than what they are doing now. The authorities must find ways and means to get taxi drivers work harder.

To begin with, make a study of how taxis operate in Singapore - our closest neighbour - and learn how they keep their taxis running all the time 24/7 come rain or shine. Their taxis are never idle nor do their drivers disappear for a ‘cuppa' for a chit-chat. If this does not drive home the point of not increasing taxi fares - go to Bangkok, a city of about twelve million where taxi fares are metered and nobody is bullied and cheated.

The authorities come down hard on errant drivers both in Singapore and Bangkok. But here in Boleh-land it's ‘boleh' all the way for taxi operators. How then does a fare increase bring about efficiency and a satisfactory service for the long-suffering public?

Any fare increase in transportation costs of any kind will have a domino effect on the prices of all other goods and services resulting in spiralling costs for everything in the country. The people will be burdened more and more in these times of recession and high unemployment with foreign investment fast disappearing from our shores.

The ministers and those who own fleets of taxis under all sorts of disguise have a public duty to keep costs down. Merely raising fare increases without a satisfactory improvement in the quality of taxis and services rendered to the public is just plain greed. Public transport is everybody's concern, more so for the poor who can't afford any private transport of their own. As the poor are the ones who need public transport, fare increases should be kept to the minimum without impoverishing the poor even more.

A serious study has to be made why taxi drivers are asking for higher fares without putting in any effort to earn more. While some drivers do work long hours to earn a decent living, many get by working for only a few hours and charging exorbitant fares. This practice must stop before any fare increase is contemplated.