While conventional taxi drivers are aggressively calling for the banning of ridesharing service platform Grab, an online poll conducted by Malaysiakini reveals a contrasting sentiment from the public.

In the one-day poll, which ended at 1pm today, 68,500 or 95 percent of 72,200 respondents preferred ridesharing services over taxis.

The poll was conducted on Malaysiakini's English, Bahasa Melayu and Chinese Facebook pages.

The online poll was initiated on Sunday afternoon following a walkout staged by taxi drivers during their meeting with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Langkawi.

The taxi drivers were upset over Mahathir's comment that Putrajaya will seek a mechanism to level the playing field between taxis and ride-sharing services, instead of an outright ban of the latter.

Sharing bad experiences

Many of Malaysiakini readers also left their comments in the polls' comment section, narrating their views on the issue, including claims of their bad experience with conventional taxi services.

"Taxi drivers are generally so rude, and experts in harassing. Plus, they'll purposely drive super slow so that the meter reading increases and rob us like fools!! Therefore, I am with Grab!" wrote one Sree Vinoma.

Another reader, Christopher Yee wrote: "I strongly agree, taxi driver associations are too much and cross the boundary. I advise all honest and serious drivers to move to Grab".

"Sure choose Grab, value for money, clean and convenient booking. Taxi close shop la, expensive, dirty, (and) not convenient to get one!" said Hoffman Skh.

There were also readers who called for the playing field to be levelled among taxis and ridesharing services and for taxis to improve their services.

"Taxi or Grab, (there) should be healthy competition. Equal rights and law to apply for both," said Beet Mj.

"Learn from Jakarta’s Bluebird taxi. Their drivers are very professional.

So far all drivers I experienced were professional and never create any drama for tips. Their taxis are clean and no smell," said Nelson Djee.