It is interesting to read Entrepreneur Development Minister Nazri Aziz's comments regarding the taxi episode. Much have already been said, but I wish to add a few more so that readers will better understand what actually transpires in the taxi business.

First and foremost, we have to agree that the taxi service, especially in the Klang Valley, is far from satisfactory. Despite numerous 'operasi' conducted by both the commercial vehicles licensing department (LPKP) and the road transport department (JPJ), there are still a number of drivers who refuse to take passengers to their desired destination and refuse to use the metre.

Such attitude will remain if the current practice of issuing permits to companies continues to exist. As long as this policy is there, drivers will continue to remain at mercy of taxi companies, where they hardly have a say on the vehicle hiring terms and conditions. Consider this: a driver pays RM5,000 down payment in order to drive a taxi belonging to these companies. Include a sum of RM150 for the agreement, and this totals RM5,150.

He then pays an average of RM40 per day as rental, totalling RM1,200 a month. Whether the driver is sick or the car is sick, the driver is still contractually obligated to pay for the rental. Is this fair?

Taxi drivers only gets 12 days annual leave per year - what other job allows this? In order to make up for the rental plus petrol (RM50 daily), with an average revenue of RM10 per hour, one needs to drive a total of nine hours to break even. That does not include the hours taken off for meals and whatever else obligations one has to attend to (e.g. prayers).

But wait, our friend will also have to set aside a minimum sum of RM10 for car maintenance daily. Mind you, the companies do not pay a single sen for maintenance - only the annual RM83 for road tax. This sums up to 10 hours on the road just to break even.

In order to take home a pay of RM50 a day, he has to drive an extra five hours. This makes it 15 hours a day, battling the infamous jams of Kuala Lumpur, not to mention the hassle of handling rough customers. If we include short breaks, one would drive an average of 16 hours just to make a decent living.

How many of us would want to work 16 hours daily just to place food on the table? Looks like our drivers are left without a choice. Like it or not, they have become enslaved by the system. I bet you most, if not all the drivers, would love to trade this job for something much better.

Yet we still expect them to put up a smile every time they ferry tourists to the desired destination? The question we would like the minister to answer is: why let this unfair system to exist if it is proven to be detrimental to the whole transportation service industry?

Overworked drivers are the worst ambassadors of our nation. They will naturally be at their worst if we continue to allow taxi companies to exploit the drivers. Whatever happened to the 30 percent equity promised them during the days of then minister Napsiah Omar?

The current system breeds corruption and cronyism. Any company having, let's say, a hundred permits can simply rent them out at RM5,000. These monies are used upfront for the cars. Another RM1,200 is collected from these poor drivers monthly. Deduct, let's say, another RM100 for management fees, and this comes down to a cool sum of RM500 per car... or rather RM500 per permit per month. Multiply that by 100 and you stand to draw an income of RM50,000 per month. What if you have a thousand permits? Or 6,000 for that matter? No wonder these companies are laughing all the way to the banks at the expense of the drivers and the transportation system. If this isn't a get rich quick scheme, what is?

No amount of enforcement will prevent drivers from earning their dues in an easier way. Hence the infamous cut throat drivers of Puduraya. It is because the system allows this to happen. The drivers pass down the cost to the public.

Enough is enough. Let these drivers have their own permits and cut away the middlemen eating at their income. Discontinue permits to companies. They have made their riches many times over much at the expense of our transport system. Only then will there not be a single shadow of doubt as to the issuing of taxi permits are concerned. For as long as this system is allowed to prevail, speculation will arise over the awarding of permits to companies.

Finally, if Nazri forgets that as the minister in charge of the taxi system in our country, he has forgotten that he is answerable to the public where the public transport system is concerned. Perhaps he should return to just being an ordinary wakil rakyat , to better represent his constituency. The minister should justify why these taxi companies exist in the first place.