I was appalled to read the statement made in The Star on Aug 25 by the secretary of the Federation of Penang Taxi Association, Osman Majid. His remarks smacks of utter disrespect for the rule of law in the state.

The government has set the taxi rates and everyone is required by law to abide by it. But instead of that, Osman says its perfectly okay not to use the meter and charge any rate he likes. Would he tolerate petrol station operators charging whatever rate they liked whenever he brought his taxi in for refuelling?

Osman had even the audacity to say that it's okay to overcharge tourist and locals. Well, it's not okay! It's not okay to break the law and it's not okay to let people like Osman do whatever they like and get away with it.

It is people like Osman whose defiance and irresponsibility give Penang a very bad image. If Osman and his taxi driver colleagues are not making enough money, it is not because the rates are not fair but because they are sitting around at taxi stands and not cruising around working hard to find the next customer.

They expect business to come walking up to them rather than going out and earning it. It's good to know that the CVLB has flexed its muscle by issuing show-cause letters to 55 taxi drivers. It's time to come down hard on such drivers.

For far too long, the taxi drivers in Penang have called the shots. I hope the CVLB will eventually revoke the permits of the taxi drivers who have been found guilty of breaking the law and would continue with its undercover operation to weed out arrogant taxi driverslike Osman Majid.

Enough!