RESPONSIVE SPAD ACTS TO CRITICISMS AND COMPLAINTS

A concerned citizen letter to the SunDaily titled "No room for errant cabbies" posted on 14 January 2014, and heres the excerpt;

What message is SPAD giving? In recent statements, it said errant taxi drivers were suspended for a month. It is believed that some of the errant cabbies were still driving taxis during their suspension.

As for the taxi companies, SPAD's most serious action – warning letters for not keeping tabs on the drivers. Let's be serious, Malaysia has been ranked among the worst in the world for providing taxi services. It is a shame for all Malaysian and yet SPAD is treating the matter with kid gloves.

Giving a "slap on the wrist" of these errant drivers and their companies is not enough. Much more severe action needs to be taken to give the correct message to all. How about two years suspension and if caught again, suspension for life.

Somehow thats not the main issue here. We would like to highlight that SPAD is very responsive and serious in their actions to all complaints and informations forward to them.

On the 22 January 2014, a written response to SundDaily from En Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal, Chief Executive Officer SPAD pertaining the matter titled "Suspension is the first step";

SPAD CEO

SPAD (Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat) would like to refer to "No room for errant cabbies" (Letters, Jan 15). We would like to specifically refer to the writer's criticism of SPAD following two taxi drivers being suspended for one month after having been caught on video for not using the meter.

SPAD would like to inform the writer and the readers that this suspension is a new approach undertaken by the commission to combat overcharging.

These initial cases are to put both the drivers and operators on notice and to serve as a warning that SPAD is serious on clamping down.

SPAD expects that within the next two months, punishment for similar cases will be ramped up with heavier penalties being imposed should the drivers continue to breach the licensing conditions.

Our Suspension and Revocation Unit is specifically tasked to look into any complaints which come in, including evidence using audio or video recordings, and we will not hesitate to take action when there is a breach of the licensing conditions.

Members of the public are encouraged to send in their recordings, but we urge caution and for the public to be careful when carrying out these recordings, for fear of an aggressive or negative reaction on the part of the taxi drivers.

As part of SPAD's efforts to improve the taxi industry, a Centralised Taxi Services System (CTSS) will be implemented in stages from the fourth quarter of this year with every metered taxi being required to have an on-board unit where the movement of the taxi is monitored and SPAD can also detect which taxis are not using the meter.

SPAD would like to assure your readers that in our role as planner, regulator and enforcer of land public transport services, SPAD continues to endeavour to take all necessary steps to transform the taxi industry for the benefit of the rakyat.

As mentioned by its CEO, besides responding to complaints and informations, they are at every means and efforts to ensure enforcement executed without compromise for the sake of upgrading taxi services, especially in cities.

One bad apple wont spoil the whole bunch but unfortunately due to these few errant drivers, the whole industry are discredited and thats not fair! 

However, we should applaud SPAD for their response even if it takes a week. This clearly shows that SPAD is serious in their actions and will always walk their talk.



How serious is SPAD in their actions to curb errant taxi drivers can be measured by its CEO announcement that soon taxis will be equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to monitor not only taxis movements but also a driver's habits.

SPAD is in the midst of developing a system that is Centralised Taxi Service System (CTSS) and with this system, passengers are likely to dial to one number only. Above all, this system enables passengers to communicate directly with SPAD during the journey and they are also able to lodge a direct complaint as well as rating the drivers.

Isnt that a fullfilling news from SPAD that everyone should be looking forward for better and secured taxi services?