Relief may be in sight for taxi drivers who complain that they are struggling to make a living because of the high daily rental imposed for their vehicles.

The Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) will urge taxi companies to review the quantum and amend the terms of their contract with drivers.

NONE "The terms .... must not be a burden... Spad will work to improve the situation. We will urge the companies to change certain terms," Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan (left) told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was replying a supplementary question from deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was presiding over Question Time this morning.

"Is Spad going to monitor the daily rental of taxis that go up to RM125 a day? Why is the rate so high? " he asked, citing information from a taxi driver he knows.

    

Ahmad then referred him to the KL public transport master plan drafted by Spad and which is available online.

"... All the concerns and details that you mentioned are in there. We welcome more feedback,” he added.

hatta ramli 070708 Meanwhile, to another supplementary question from Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) ( left ), Ahmad said that it is not possible for the government to retract licences already issued to the taxi companies and re-issue them to individuals taxi drivers.

“Once issued, we cannot retract the licences... What will happen to the companies who have invested a lot of money?” the deputy minister asked.

Ahmad also said that out of all the taxis permits issued, 53 percent were already individual licences anyway.

Hatta wanted to know if it was possible to take back the licences from the companies and re-issue them directly to the drivers, so that the cabbies do not have to pay high rental to the cab firms and can purchase cars on their own which they will eventually own, instead of having to lease the vehicle from their employers.