Kamaruddin Hussain, who leads Gabungan Teksi Se-Malaysia, claimed Loke had done nothing to address the issues despite being told to do so many times.

“He seems to be ignoring the orders of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to solve these issues. Isn’t that being rude?” he told reporters outside the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) headquarters here.

The prime minister had assured in August that the government would resolve the various grouses aired by taxi drivers nationwide.

However, Kamaruddin said there seemed to be no improvement, claiming Grab drivers were still allowed to operate without proper regulations.

“Taxi drivers are still suffering from the unfair competition with e-hailing service providers which are increasing in number.

“Instead of these problems being solved, we have been labelled as rude and ill-mannered. We don’t think it’s fair that people stereotype all taxi drivers as such.”

He also refuted those who said taxis were often old and unsafe, saying drivers had to bring their vehicles in for checks every six months in order to continue transporting passengers.

“Please be fair to us.”

When asked about the coalition’s demands, Kamaruddin said first of all, the transport minister must go.

“Then we call upon the prime minister to set up a special task force to meet with the respective taxi drivers associations to look into how to resolve these long-standing issues faced by taxi drivers.

“But we request that this meeting be held without the presence of Loke. He is a minister who went against the prime minister’s orders, why should he be kept as a minister anymore?”

Meanwhile, Muhamad Nazrul Abd Rahim, a committee member of the coalition, said the events at the meeting between Mahathir and taxi drivers in Langkawi on Monday were due to a misunderstanding.

“It was not like what was reported,” he said. “Some said there were 10 taxi drivers who walked out, but it was fewer than that.

“They didn’t walk out in protest. They were just unhappy and that was just them expressing themselves.

“I was there, and I don’t think it is right for them to be labelled as rude, and that they have to apologise to the prime minister.”

Nazrul also claimed that taxi drivers nationwide were suffering from unfair competition, adding that the dialogue was merely to allow drivers to voice their frustrations.

“They were expecting more from the present government but their feelings were hurt by what was said during the dialogue. That’s why they left the hall.”

He added that those who left had been the few who rallied support from among taxi drivers to vote for Pakatan Harapan, especially Mahathir, in the May 9 polls.

“These taxi drivers also offered free rides for passengers in Langkawi after May 9 to show their gratitude for the new government,” he said.