A group of taxi drivers are up in arms for not being allowed to collect RM300 in incentive payments after they missed the awards ceremony where Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng delivered a speech today.

Some 30 taxi drivers took to the third floor of Komtar, where the state government's office is, to protest what they said was an "insincere" gesture by the Penang government.

Following negotiations with state officials, the taxi drivers were offered to collect their incentive payments tomorrow at another ceremony but will have to cross over to the Penang mainland.

However, many of the upset taxi drivers are mulling on giving up on the incentive payment altogether.

Since 2013, the state government has disbursed RM600 in subsidies to taxi drivers in two payments every year.

A total of 1,578 taxi drivers on Penang Island were supposed to collect the allowance at Penang City Hall at 9am today and another 557 taxi drivers on the mainland of Seberang Perai are scheduled to receive their payment in a ceremony tomorrow.

The disgruntled taxi drivers claimed that in the past, they were allowed to collect the incentive payment from 9am to 1.30pm and that the disbursements were normally given on a weekend.

However, the taxi drivers claimed, this time, they were only given two hours to do so and must attend Lim's speech.

They complained that there was insufficient parking to attend the function with some being given tickets for illegal parking, on top of having to sacrifice their business hours.

As a result, a few hundred taxi drivers missed the ceremony and could not collect the incentive payment.

Lim, in his speech, had also said that those who were absent would have their incentive held back.

The angry taxi drivers then barged into Komtar, prompting the authorities to close down its third floor, allowing only staff with tags to enter.

Cruel government

Penang Perkasa Youth chief Ridzuan Azudin, who said he is a taxi driver himself, blasted the Penang government as "cruel" for forcing them to sit through Lim's speech in order to get their incentive payment.

He questioned if Lim thought himself as "God" and wanted taxi drivers to worship him.

"Many taxi drivers couldn't find parking. After collecting RM300, they end up having to pay RM50 for parking summon.

"And with all the taxi drivers gathering at the same time, who will be left to fetch passengers on the road?" he fumed.

Taxi driver Md Tazrik said if the Penang government is sincere in giving out the incentive, it should do so properly and not make it as if the taxi drivers were getting charity.

"We are not beggars, if we use the time to get the incentive payment to fetch passengers, we can make the money back," he said.

Another taxi driver, Velayuthan, said he was late to the ceremony today because he had to take a passenger to the airport.

He added that he is unfamiliar with Seberang Perai and is unwilling to make the trip there tomorrow for the incentive payment.

Luo Ting Hui, who has been a taxi driver for 11 years, said he hoped the Penang government could improve the way its disburses the incentive payment so as not to open itself to criticisms.

"I am a DAP supporter and giving this incentive payment is good, but the way it is being done now, wouldn't it backfire?

"Taxi drivers meet many customers every day [...] they can easily spread their opinion of the Penang government," he said.

Lim, when contacted by Malaysiakini , said the disbursement method of the incentive payment was done based on the recommendation of the Federation of Penang Taxi and Hired Car Drivers chairperson Abdul Malek Darus.

"He said during the ceremony this morning that if some people do not attend, then it would not be fair to other taxi drivers who were present.

"The federation was also of the opinion that if all drivers attend the ceremony together, it can improve their relationship.

"The event can also be used as a platform to discuss ways on improving the taxi service," said Lim.

He added that if some taxi drivers are unhappy with the arrangement, then the taxi federation will need to reflect on the matter.

Lim said he hoped he issue will not cause a split in the organisation.