Set up pool of women cabbies

TS,Wednesday 19 January 2011 

The Malaysian Association of Women with Disabilities has called on the Government to set up a taxi service “by women, for women”. 

I urge the Government to not get involved in the taxi business. The records of several subsidiaries owned by government-linked agencies in this activity have been dismal. 

What the authorities can do is to set aside more taxi permits for women while the association builds up a pool of women taxi drivers that can be called upon to provide the service, especially for disabled women. 

I once helped a wheelchair-bound Japanese tourist, who hardly spoke a word of English to alight from my premier taxi at KLCC. I only realised that my passenger was a female when I carried her out of the taxi and put her on the wheelchair. 

When she offered to pay for the fare, I refused. I was totally humbled by her zest for life. 

She might have been handicapped physically and faced a communication barrier but her spirit was free. At that time, I had a sticker on my taxi: “Nice people enrich my life more than money can”. 

A taxi service catering to women only or relying on bookings alone is not sustainable. Calling for a radio taxi is the next best option as drivers who subscribe to this service can be traced, although they are not controlled by the company. 

However, during the rush hour and especially when it rains, it is very difficult to get a radio taxi for a short trip. There is no good reason for a taxi to be driven empty all the way to pick up a passenger. 

An NGO or any individual must be pragmatic to overcome the challenges which the authorities have failed to resolve. NGOs can get together and seek funding from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to set up a taxi booking service to cater to women and the disabled. 

Taxi drivers who wish to participate in the pool are to be screened and trained - and they can be men or women as long as they are good taxi drivers. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur