Where hindsight is overlooked

Categories: Malaysia

The failure to implement metered taxi fares in Penang as scheduled on May 1 once again showed how poor the Malaysian authorities are in planning. Only a few days ago the government postponed the imposition of a fee levy on all foreign cars coming into the country. In Malaysia, it seemed that the people who are in charge does not have a clue on policy implementation. Whatever that comes to mind, will be said before even looking at the feasibility.

The use of metered taxi fare is not new in Penang. Many years ago a ruling was made to compel all taxis in Penang to use meters. However, the meters were never used because of a big protest by the taxi drivers. The authority promised to look into their plight, and an in the meantime the use of the meters died a natural death. They had been looking into this matter ever since. Therefore it seemed strange that with the advantage of hindsight, the authorities should just jump into the gaunlet yet again without first identifying any teething problem.

I think the problem with metered taxi fare is not one of logistics or fare structure but one which has plaque Malaysian society for many years - that of implementation. What will be the difference between the planned metered taxi fare compared to that of the previously failed one? Maybe the fare rates are different but essentially the taxi drivers and the reasons for their reluctance is the same. As a result, there is nothing to prevent this 'new' scheme from failing; unless there is a change in the political will to enforce the ruling.

Being a taxi driver is a viable if not lucrative job in Penang. Given the high population, scattered residential areas with a poor transport system, the need for taxi service is inevitable. However by forcing the taxi driver to use the meter without at least some feedback from them is doomed to failure unless the authority has the political will to push the implementation through. On the part of the commuters, they should just boycott any taxi which refuses to use the meter. Only when the commuters and the authority work together can the metered taxi scheme be successfully implemented.