KINIBIZ The taxi industry is one that is decades old, which has planted itself as an integral part of the Malaysian public transport system - usually as a means of direct transit from point A to point B, or otherwise as last-mile connectors in conjunction with other means of public transport such as buses or trains.
Over the years however, the system under which Malaysia's taxi drivers have operated - namely the taxi operation/leasing model, or more commonly known as the “pajak” system - has been identified as something that would be detrimental to the system as a whole in the long run.
The system involves taxi drivers leasing a vehicle and/or a permit which allows the driver to offer a taxi service, with the taxi driver paying an amount in rent to the owner of the permit who usually owns it through a holding company.
This has been described as a form of "modern slavery" by none other than our own prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak, who had made the comment in June 2012 and promised a revamp of the taxi system through the abolition of the permit monopoly by a few companies.
Of course, seeing as the system is still in place now four years later in 2016, it can also be said that beyond that initial show of action, the prime minister has not kept his word.
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