Taxi drivers need to accept the reality that conventional hailing services are no longer relevant in this era of technological globalisation.
According to the State Executive Councillor for Youth, Sports, Communication and Multimedia, Khairul Shahril Mohamed, they need to keep up with the times and developments to compete with E-hailing drivers such as Grab and MyCar.
“If they want to continue their career in the public transport sector, drivers need to say goodbye to conventional methods and embrace being E-hailing ones to be ready for welcoming self-competition,” he told reporters during the Jom Naik Teksi @ Teksiku campaign launch in Mydin Meru Raya yesterday (September 26).
“Conventional operation is no longer suitable with current conditions. If continued, it’ll bring negative effects and leave drivers behind in getting customers,” Khairul Shahril added.
Also present at the campaign launch were chief executive officer for MySuri Biz Technologies Sdn Bhd (MySuri), Mohd Noor Ghazali; Chief executive officer for Digital Perak, Meor Rezal Fitri Meor Redwan; director of Perkeso Perak, Anthony Arul Dass; and chairman of Persatuan Pemandu-Pemandu Kereta Sewa Negeri Perak (Association of Rental Car Drivers), B. Jayaprakash.
Teksiku is an E-hailing mobile application developed and managed by MySuri for taxis and rental cars.
Khairul Shahril stated that the effort undergone by MySuri is to assist struggling taxi drivers as of now. He also advised taxi and rental car drivers who have yet to register with Teksiku to do so as soon as possible.
“Out of around 1,200 drivers in the whole state, only 200 have registered,” he mentioned.
Khairul Shahril also said that the state government via Digital Perak is ready to provide basic training for those having troubles with digital transformation.
“We highly welcome efforts like this. We’ll help and even research the drivers’ qualification to be made tourism ambassadors,” he enthused.
He also urged drivers to reap the opportunity of registering with Perkeso under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.
Rosli Mansor
