Consequently, Gabungan Teksi SeMalaysia (GTSM) said they will find a way to place a representative for the taxi drivers in Parliament, adding that cabbies can no longer depend on politicians.
GTSM president Kamaruddin Mohd Hussain told FMT that he was not surprised that the 2020 Budget had no allocations for cabbies as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government had already failed to take care of the welfare of taxi drivers.
He highlighted that Putrajaya has not organised any programmes to improve the taxi industry, accusing the government of creating lop-sided rules in favour of the e-hailing taxi sector.
“We need to unite and find a way to place one of our own in the Dewan Rakyat or else our fate will forever fail to be ensured.
“The perception that societies cannot be involved in politics needs to be eliminated,” he added.
He reiterated that the taxi industry had not received any funds despite RM500 million being allocated in the 2019 Budget last year for the development of the public transportation industry.
“So for us, whether we get an allocation of funds or not, it makes no difference. What’s plain is that our welfare continues to be neglected. What we must do now is to be independent.”
Meanwhile, Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Ashfar Ali said no funds were allocated for private bus operators and for the provision of free training for potential bus and lorry drivers.
However, Ashfar hoped the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) would still be able to provide driving lessons as they were allocated RM30 million to provide free training to 3,000 youths from poor families.
“Perhaps, HRDF will put in our request for free training for those wanting to be bus or lorry drivers under this allocation,” he told FMT.
Hauliers Association president Nazari Akhbar echoed Ashfar’s view, stressing that the logistics industry also faced a shortage of drivers.
“Why not provide some funds for them to be trained as drivers?”
Nazari also welcomed women drivers to work in the logistics industry, telling FMT that if potential female hauliers were provided with proper training, they would be willing to employ them.
He also expressed disappointment over the lack of incentives for transporters supporting the use of biodiesel. He urged Putrajaya to encourage the use of B20 biodiesel among truckers by subsidising the cost of installing filters for their vehicles.
“The government allocated so much funds for the palm oil industry and the development of biodiesel. We wish they would also allocate some funds for transporters to support the use of biodiesel.”
Nazari also questioned whether the RM50 million allocated to improve roads leading to Port Klang was enough, highlighting that double the amount was allocated for the development of a new cable car system at Bukit Bendera in Penang.
“The distance between Northport and Westport is 30km, one way. Two way, it’s 60km and it’s a two-lane highway. The budget is less than one million per kilometre.
“I’m just wondering what they can do with this sum allocated in the budget.”